I have a fairly large gazebo, built on the side of a mountain, on a sloped site. I have planted many plants all around the structure, and I need a mulch substitute. The site is too steep for regular mulch. or straw, as the rains will just wash it down. Same problem with installing weed screens, any mulch on top of that will just wash away.I have seen what looks like crushed red brick in commercial restaurants such as McDonald's etc. It may be a lava type product, but the last time I noticed, it looks like crush brick pieces. It is a reddish color, and it looks really good where I have seen it.The problem (and my question) is whether or not weeds are a big problem if you use that product as a mulch subtitute. I would think that if you got it 3 or 4 inches deep, weeds would not grow through it, like it will with mulch. My thinking is that mulch retains moisture, and promotes weed growth, and that the brick product would not hold moisture. By the way, this is in a shady area, and the "mulch" would be more for looks that for preserving moisture for the plants. That is not a concern or problem in my situation.Have any of you ever used this crushed brick product, or can any of you offer comments or advice ??Thank you very much !!James

It usually is a lava, and it is, imho, ugly. Terribly ugly when it's notlike the native rock of the area. Weeds (and other seeds) require several things for germination:1) a suitable growing medium2) enough water3) lightThe easy way to prevent weed growth is what agronomists call "canopy closure" -- plants growing so densely that light doesn't reach the soil.Or starving the surrounding soil of water, which you're not going to doduring the establishment phase of the plantings. 3-4" of coarse rock isn't likely to do much unless it's well packed. Doesn't sound likeyou can provide that. Red light of the wavelengths that trigger germinationcan penetrate 18" of some soils.If you're dealing with a slope so steep you can't keep mulch on it, you'regoing to continue to have erosion. Were it mine, I'd probably do somemini-terracing and use an organic mulch with a tackifier until the plantingsare dense enough to hold the soil.

Mulch substitute -- crushed brick ??

May 31, 2007 30 Replies

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Nan 19 years ago

Neil has issues.

Nan

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Denominator 19 years ago

Yes, Cleaning Small Blotches on Linoleum. Mrs. Bonk and her Wannabes hijacked the thread to discuss personal problems.

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James 19 years ago

Isn't this going far beyond the subject matter of the OP ??

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Denominator 19 years ago

James wrote: [...]

[cutting to the chase]

I've seen it at Barbecue Bob's Family Style Restaurants. It looks really good and tastes even better. It's a bean type product.

I think he's over at alt.cooking-chat. And now to return to the topic... I wonder how Bob cleans small blotches on linoleum.

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Nan 19 years ago

You have issues, too, hon. You need to get over yourself.

Nan

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Nan 19 years ago

The OP has already gotten some good advice.

Nan

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peggo 19 years ago

He doesn't. He's got tile.

peggo

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Denominator 19 years ago

On the USENET the best way to "get something over", including yourself, is to avoid the use of inarticulate idioms.

Critics tell me my biggest "issue" is my unwarranted humility. Constant criticism of it makes it worse. Sometimes I think I'll never get over it by myself.

Thanks for your concern. Now, back to our topic: Cleaning Small Blotches on Linoleum.

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Denominator 19 years ago

I mean the kitchen, not the restrooms/snackrooms. If he put bathroom flooring in the kitchen, no decent chef would work for him.

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Mrs Bonk 19 years ago

how very common.

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Enumerator 19 years ago

I accept your apology.

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