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Nonorganic mulch, like river rocks, pebbles, or lava rock, technically lasts the longest. It helps with moisture retention and weed control but doesn’t break down and release nutrients like organic mulch. Wood mulch decomposes slowly, which can help it last longer than leaf or straw mulch, but it won’t provide as many nutrients as quickly as the faster decomposing types.

The most important thing to put under a rock garden is the appropriate soil. The specific soil needed will depend on the type of plants you’re growing as well as the environment you live in. You can also put non-woven or woven fabric under the rocks to add to the garden's structural stability.

Because gravel moves, it requires different maintenance than asphalt or concrete. Here are a few maintenance tips for your gravel driveway. Every few years (or as often as needed):

• Grade and level your driveway

• Rake to fill holes and ruts

• Compact any refilled potholes

• Remove weeds with herbicide or by hand

• Spray it with water to reduce the amount of dust kicked up

• Avoid using a snowplow during winter months

The best way to landscape your front yard on a budget is to invest in hiring a professional for hardscaping—things like upgrading walkways, redoing driveways, and installing partitions around garden beds. You can often do the softscaping yourself—think laying down mulch, caring for your lawn, removing weeds, and planting flowers and shrubs. It’s also almost always worthwhile to pay a professional for routine yard maintenance, as this dramatically improves curb appeal and delivers above 100% ROI in most cases.