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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. 

Top up your gravel driveway whenever water starts to pool in areas. This is bound to happen over time. You can be proactive and top up your driveway at the start of the warm season, and then check on it throughout the summer, particularly after heavy rainfall. Every few years, you should consider installing a new, clean layer of gravel—and that’s a good opportunity to install a layer of landscaping fabric before doing so.

Determining how many boulders you’ll need for your landscaping project depends on the area you need to cover and how big each boulder is. First, you’ll need to determine how big of an area you want covered, then divide that by the base surface area of the boulders. A landscape professional can help you determine how many boulders will be right for your project.

The difference between river rock and landscaping rocks is size, smoothness, and use. River rocks are smooth and flat, as if polished by water, and come in diameters between 1 and 8 inches. Landscape rock can vary in size from small pea gravel installations to car-sized boulders. However, landscaping and river rocks are interchangeable in many situations. River rock is best for pathways, walkways, garden bed mulch, water features, and planting accents, while small landscape rocks can serve as a walkway base, gravel playground areas, and filler between pavers.