BUILDING ON LEVEL GROUND: STEP-BY-STEP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A FLAT LOT
Cardboard under mulch has been a bit of a mixed bag for me. I did it in one section of my backyard—mainly because I had a ton of moving boxes left over—and it definitely kept the weeds down for the first season. By the next spring, though, most of it had broken down and I started seeing some weeds sneak back in. Still, way easier to pull them out compared to when I used landscape fabric (which just turned into a tangled mess with roots growing right through it).
I hear you on the boulders. They’re kind of like cheat codes for landscaping… even if you just plop a few around, suddenly everything looks intentional. The only hassle is moving them—my neighbor and I nearly threw our backs out rolling one across the lawn last summer. Worth it though.
Curious if anyone’s tried mixing gravel with mulch for pathways or borders? I’ve seen some folks layer gravel under mulch to help with drainage, especially on flat lots where water tends to pool. Haven’t tried it myself yet but thinking about giving it a go this year, since my side yard gets swampy every time we get a decent rain. Wondering if that combo would help keep things drier without turning into a mud pit.
Also, does anyone else find that mulch seems to disappear faster on flat ground? Maybe it’s just wind or birds kicking it up, but I feel like I’m always topping mine off…
BUILDING ON LEVEL GROUND: STEP-BY-STEP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A FLAT LOT
I’ve actually tried the gravel-under-mulch trick along my back fence, mostly because I was tired of stepping into puddles every time it rained. It helped a bit with drainage, but I did notice the mulch seemed to migrate more than usual—maybe because the gravel made it easier for wind to move it around? I’m with you on the mulch disappearing act... feels like I’m constantly topping it up, especially after a windy week. Has anyone experimented with heavier mulches, like bark nuggets, to see if they stay put better?
I did notice the mulch seemed to migrate more than usual—maybe because the gravel made it easier for wind to move it around?
That’s been my experience too. Gravel’s great for drainage, but it’s almost like giving your mulch a slip-n-slide underneath. I’ve tried bark nuggets and, honestly, they do stay put better than shredded mulch, especially in windy spots. The tradeoff is they don’t break down as quickly, which is good for stability but not so great if you’re after that soil-improving effect.
One thing I’ve seen work is edging—something as basic as a 2x4 or even those cheap plastic borders. It’s not glamorous, but it cuts down on migration a ton. Also, if you’re using bark nuggets, just be ready for the occasional squirrel to treat them like bowling balls... had a few roll into my neighbor’s yard last spring.
Bottom line: heavier mulch helps, but nothing’s totally maintenance-free on a flat lot. If only there was a way to make mulch magnetic or something...
“it’s almost like giving your mulch a slip-n-slide underneath.”
That’s exactly it. I tried pea gravel under mulch once—never again. Looked great for about a week, then the wind had half my mulch in the driveway. Edging helps, but honestly, nothing beats just skipping the gravel layer if you want things to stay put. And yeah, those bark nuggets are squirrel magnets... I swear they’re running a bowling league out there.
“Looked great for about a week, then the wind had half my mulch in the driveway.”
That’s my worry too. I’ve read about using landscape fabric instead of gravel under mulch—supposed to help with weeds, but I’m not sure if it actually keeps things in place. Anyone tried that on a flat lot?
