I’ve tried landscape pins with cardboard, but the wind still manages to peel up the corners eventually. Gravel seemed promising at first, but you’re right—the weeds just find a way through, and then you’re stuck picking them out by hand or torching them (which gets old fast). I’ve wondered if anyone’s had luck with those permeable paver grids? They look neat in theory, but I’m skeptical about long-term maintenance. Does anyone actually find them less hassle than mulch or gravel?
WHY DOES YARD WORK ALWAYS SEEM NEVER-ENDING?
I’ve wondered if anyone’s had luck with those permeable paver grids? They look neat in theory, but I’m skeptical about long-term maintenance. Does anyone actually find them less hassle than mulch or gravel?
You’re not alone being skeptical about those paver grids. I put some in a side path a couple years back, thinking it’d be the “set it and forget it” solution. They do look tidy at first, and you don’t get the same mess as with loose gravel, but honestly, weeds still find a way. Maybe not as bad as straight gravel, but they’ll pop up in the grid holes unless you’re on top of it. And if you fill the grids with gravel or soil, you’re back to square one with the weeding.
Maintenance-wise, the grids themselves hold up okay, but cleaning out the junk that gets stuck in them is a pain. I’ve had to pull out a few sections just to get rid of roots that snuck underneath. Not exactly low-maintenance.
Cardboard and pins—been there too. Wind always wins. I tried overlapping the edges and using landscape staples every foot, but after a season or two, it’s all shifting around or breaking down. Mulch looks good for a while, but then you’re topping it up every year and still fighting weeds.
Honestly, I think the only thing that really cuts down on the hassle is just planting stuff close together so there’s no room for weeds to get started. Groundcovers, shrubs, whatever. Less bare dirt means less work in the long run. But yeah, there’s no magic bullet. Yard work just keeps coming back around, like laundry or dishes...
WHY DOES YARD WORK ALWAYS SEEM NEVER-ENDING?
Honestly, I think the only thing that really cuts down on the hassle is just planting stuff close together so there’s no room for weeds to get started.
That makes sense, but do you ever run into issues with overcrowding or plants competing too much? I’ve seen yards where groundcovers take over and start choking out other stuff, or you end up with a tangled mess by midsummer. Is there a sweet spot between “no bare dirt” and “jungle”? Or is it just trial and error for everyone?
Is there a sweet spot between “no bare dirt” and “jungle”?
- Definitely agree that packing plants in helps with weeds, but yeah, it can turn into a mess fast.
- I’ve tried the “no bare dirt” thing and ended up with hostas swallowing my daylilies. Not ideal.
- What’s worked for me is spacing stuff just enough so I can still get a hoe or my hands in between, but not so much that weeds have a field day.
- It’s kind of a balancing act...and honestly, it changes every year as stuff grows. Trial and error seems about right.
Honestly, I think the “sweet spot” is a myth. Every time I try to leave just enough space, something always gets out of hand—either weeds or plants taking over. Maybe the trick is just accepting a little chaos and saving money on mulch...
