flagstone in the rock garden

ensete2002

11 years ago

I'm considering adding flagstone to my rock garden. I'm hoping it will help with controlling weeds. I have serious bindweed, Canada thistle and mugwort weed problems. The thistle and mugwort are all over the rest of the garden wherever there's sun. The bindweed seems to specialize in dry areas, like a rock garden.

Right now my rock garden is in the style of a scree, mulched entirely with several inches of crushed stone. The weed problem got so bad, we're basically having to renovate the area There are very few remaining original plants, mainly the toughest, of course.

I was wondering whether using some large flat rock such as flagstone between plants would reduce the area that needed weeding, rocks being a most impermeable barrier. In addition I had always heard that alpine plants love the cool root run underneath stones.

My attempts to find information on the web usually winds up articles about putting flagstone's on end to make crevice gardens, or just discussions of patios.

I do have the image of a flagstone with an enthusiastic ring of bindweed shoots coming up at the perimeter . That might still make it easier to weed then if they came up interspersed everywhere.

So any opinions or information either on using flat stones in the rockery or dealing with weeds would be much appreciated. We are planning a mix of small crown forming plants like Gentiana acaulis, and spreading plants like Veronica liwanensis.

If flagstone is helpful , what thickness and size across would be best?

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Comments (5)

Lily777
11 years ago
My local rock supplier has standard thickness flagstone for stepping stones. The larger sizes are more expensive. I do think that you're better off just declaring war on your weeds than putting stepping stones down right now because I think that the aggressive weeds will root underneath the stepping stones. I've pulled roots out that were 2 feet long. I've heard that for bindweed, you just have to aggressively dig it up for a couple of years. Pulling it up and having the roots break off is not good enough. Sorry to hear that it's invading your rock garden.
slotcar8
11 years ago
I do have flagstone pavers and steps running through my alpines and the alpines do enjoy the protection over their roots, especially on a hill side. To control your weeds, you may try layers of newspaper tacked down under black garbage bags or tarps to smother out the weeds. Usually this is done in the fall and left over winter but you could try it early this spring. Emerging perennial weeds and sprouting seedlings will all smother under this cover. Even 3 months of it (April - June) should help. Always try to remove any weeds that survive before they set seed. Good luck!!
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seamommy
11 years ago
I used roundup and a small paintbrush to go after aggressive weeds.
Mike McGarvey
11 years ago
Smothering plants that spread by underground roots with rocks of any kind is a lesson in futility. It doesn't work. Period.
Use a spray like Roundup as mentioned above. Crossbow works better on bindweed than Roundup.
Mike
hiccup4
11 years ago
Dig. It. Up. Spend the time and pull it all out. Then plant, plant and plant...especially ground covers and competitive plants that will prevent any 'new' seeds from forming. I also use a thick layer of shredded leaves (come fall) to coat the garden until my new plants have matured...although that doesn't probably fit with your scree garden look.