A rock ground cover is the best way to finish off the look of your landscape beds in New Mexico. Installing a rock ground cover entails spreading the right amount of rocks to achieve the optimal layer that is 2 to 3 inches thick. This thickness ensures your rock ground cover will make your landscape look more refined while providing intended health benefits for your plants. What's more, the rocks should not touch the base of the plants and instead have a 1-inch space around them to prevent smothering them. To keep your landscape beds looking their best, make sure you're refreshing your rock ground cover when the rocks start to lose their color and look worn down!

Your rock ground cover should be about 2 to 3 inches thick.

Landscape in Las Cruces, NM, with rocks and shrubs beside a walkway.

When installing rocks to serve as ground cover for your landscape beds, the layer of rocks should be about two to three inches thick. These rocks, when installed correctly, will give your landscape a neat and polished look and boost your curb appeal. Keeping your rocks 2 to 3 inches thick ensures the layer is thick enough so that they provide their intended benefits. Rocks will help insulate the soil and regulate soil temperature to keep the environment of the roots stable, meaning any harsh weather changes will not shock your plants. Keeping the thickness at the optimal level will also help prevent weeds, combat erosion, and help the soil retain more moisture. If the rocks are too thick, they can smother your plants, and if the layer is too thin, they won't be able to provide their intended benefits. That's why it's so crucial to ensure the rock layer is at just the right thickness!

Leave an inch around the base of your plants to avoid smothering them.

Aside from ensuring the thickness of your rock ground cover is correct, there should also be a space allowance around the base of your plants. Rocks should be installed 1 inch away around the base of your plants to ensure proper airflow for them. When the rocks have direct contact with the plant, moisture can get trapped and create ideal conditions for diseases to develop and pests to take refuge. The rocks can smother your plants as well by inhibiting their ability to access vital resources that promote growth.

How often should you refresh your rock ground cover?

Rocks should be refreshed whenever their color starts to fade or when your ground cover starts to look worn down. Unlike mulch which decomposes quickly, rocks don't break down and get thinner. This allows you to get away with not replenishing them as often as mulch! However, elements like sun exposure, dirt, rain, and foot traffic can affect the appearance of your rock ground cover. When you notice that your landscape beds have been looking worse for the wear because of unkempt rocks, it's time to replenish them!

Partner with professionals to install your rock ground cover so you get a variety of landscaping rock options!

For rock installation done right, look no further than our team. Call us to schedule our rock installation service!

Installing rocks in your landscape beds will elevate the appearance of your property and help maintain the health of your plants. Here at Extreme Landscaping, we offer our rock installation service to commercial and residential properties, as well as HOAs, in Las Cruces, Mesilla, Sunland Park, NM, and nearby areas, as well as nearby areas in Texas, like El Paso. When you sign up for this service, you'll be able to choose from various rock options, like dessert tan, gray, or southwest brown, among other choices. Give us a call today at (575) 652-3605 to schedule our rock installation service!