Get matched with top mulch and topsoil pros in Calipatria, CA

While you don’t need to put anything down before mulch, you can apply a pre-emergent herbicide to prevent weed growth. As long as you remove weeds before you spread mulch, you should be in the clear. But a herbicide is something that you can put down before mulch as an extra layer of protection.

Replace organic mulch every one to two years, depending on the variety. Wood chips and straw, for example, will last a couple of years, while grass clippings and pine needles need replacing every several months. Inorganic mulch—such as rock and rubber chips—can stay in place for up to four years, depending on erosion and general garden upkeep. 

The cheapest landscape rock is gravel, pebbles, or decomposed granite. These small rocks are great for affordable driveways and walkways. If you’re looking for larger rocks as a building material, you can get fieldstone affordably, especially if sourced from somewhere in your area.

The cost of 200 square feet of pea gravel depends on how deep your installation will be. The pea gravel material alone costs between $15 and $75 per cubic yard. You'll need just under two yards to cover 200 square feet to a depth of three inches, for a total cost of between $30 and $150.