Botanic Garden >> Gardening > >> Question and Answer >> Landscaping and Design

Mulch That Stays Put in Heavy Rain

Permatill (expanded shale) works but is pricey. Mini slate chips (dime-sized), pea gravel, egg-sized river rock, or crushed gravel are effective and attractive. Avoid rubber or plastic mulches—they pollute waterways.

Landscaping and Design: How to Fix Soil That Won't Retain Water in Container Trees; Stopping Rubber Mulch Washout: Edging Solutions That Work; Oncidium Won't Bloom: Summer Outdoors & Repotting Check; Green Canes but No Leaves? Testing Rose Viability After Winter in Zone 5; Climbing Rose Color Change: Sport or Rootstock Takeover?; Unknown Moss as Nepenthes Mulch: Test Cautiously; Bee-Free Window Plantings: Foliage Plants & Bloom Removal; Plants With Touch-Sensitive Leaves Beyond Mimosa; Why Mulching Indoor Plants with Pine Needles Isn't Necessary; Healthy Pepper Plants But No Fruit: Pollination, Heat, and Fertilizer Fixes

Garden Articles

Non-Organic Mulch Alternatives for Foundation Planting Beds

Dog-Safe Mulch Selection: Preventing Paw Splinters

Why Rubber Mulch Is a Bad Idea in New England

Year-Round Blooming Perennials in the Low Desert: Reality Check and Succession Planting

Troubleshooting Bare Spots in a Newly Seeded Lawn

The Coreopsis 'Moonbeam' That Wouldn't Go Away: A Gardener's Tale

Modern Moats: 8 Water Crossings That Bring Castle Magic Home

Plants

Stone Mulch vs. Organic Mulch: What's Best for Your Condo Beds?

Using Mulch to Repair Bare Lawn Patches

How to Keep Mulch in Place on Sloped Landscapes

Using Charcoal as a Decorative Mulch Topping: Pros and Cons

Is Cedar Mulch Safe for Flowers and Shrubs?

Transform Your Garden with Professional Landscaping

The Underdog Garden Color: Gray Foliage for Year-Round Impact