Don’t get us wrong — we love mulch. We can give you a whole list of the great things about mulch.
In fact, here it is:
But sometimes, a different material might work better on your commercial property.
Maybe you have drainage issues. Maybe your turf is receding but you still want something green and appealing there.
Maybe you don’t want the expense of replacing your mulch every spring. (Mulch fades and breaks down over time, so you’ll need to replace it every spring.)
Need some mulch alternatives? Here you go:
Tiny gravel, sturdy stone, fragrant flowers, silvery foliage — there are plenty of mulch alternatives for commercial property landscaping.
Stone is more expensive than mulch, but it lasts longer. It doesn’t break down into the soil like mulch does. So, you don’t have to refresh it as often.
That means you can actually save money over time, even though the initial cost is higher.
If you think all stone is basically the same, you'll be amazed at the choices. It can be small, like pea-sized gravel, or as big as baseballs.
It comes in porous, lightweight black lava rock, or shiny quartz pebbles in pretty pink, and lots of choices in-between.
We love Colorado River Rock Blend, a super cool mix of blues, grays, purples, and whites that goes with just about anything.
Going for gravel? Washed river gravel, Brazos river rock, quarried directly from the Brazos River here in Texas, or black star gravel are all good choices.
Stone can be a great mulch alternative for commercial properties, but it doesn’t work great everywhere. Avoid using stone in these areas:
Pro tip: use a layer of erosion control fabric between the soil and mulch or stone — mostly to keep the dirt from mixing into the decorative stone. There’s no guarantee it will keep out weeds.
If there are trees that drop debris over the area where you’ll put mulch or stone, opt for larger-sized stones, at least one inch in diameter.
While debris easily gets stuck in smaller gravel, landscaping crews can blow debris out of larger-sized stone.
Sometimes the best mulch alternative for commercial property landscaping is a green, growing groundcover.
Asiatic jasmine, also called star jasmine, is a fast spreading, hardy groundcover with fragrant flowers, low maintenance requirements, and dense, trailing foliage.
Expect it to spread 3 to 6 feet.
Bonus: it’s a great climber, too, if you want a beautiful plant to grow on a trellis or post.
This attractive Texas native is a great drought-tolerant groundcover.
Evergreen, disease and pest resistant, it thrives in both full sun and part shade.
It forms a dense, silvery mat up to 30 inches across that’s great for erosion control.
It’s typically treated as an annual, because it isn’t winter hardy.
Bonus: It also looks great in pots, with its silvery foliage spilling over the sides.
Not sure if your commercial property is meant for mulch, good for groundcover or super for stone?
Let us help.
We’re happy to steer you to the choice that best fits your unique commercial property and budget.
Without some type of landscaping material, your beds will sprout weeds and lack the polished, tidy look you need to attract customers, tenants, and buyers.
We’d love to partner with you to make your commercial landscaping impressive and your job hassle-free.
Are you ready for stress-free landscaping in Austin, TX? Schedule a time to meet with one of our commercial landscaping experts today. We’ll gather the details, create a customized plan just for you, and you can stop stressing as we improve and beautify your commercial property.
Image Source: Asiatic Jasmine, Silver Ponyfoot