Gary, why are you doing this? Just curious. You like the look? You want stones there? Water runs downhill, you do know that? If you don't have plastic there, it will still run downhill. That is why there is a slope by your foundation. Just an idea, if you really love the look of rock there, why don't you get bigger rocks? Really pretty big rocks. Get rid of the plastic.

I have a wonderful way of getting rid of weeds and sterilizing the soil all at once. I took this from a library book years ago and it works wonders. Also great as a weed barrier. If you have patience, it takes a year for the process to work by itself...but here goes. Take a heavy sheet of plastic (I used an old pool tarp that was going to go in the garbage anyway, but the heavy black plastic weed barrier product will work fine too), lay it all over the area that needs to be de-weeded, lay something really heavy all around the perimeter and in the center to keep the plastic from coming up, and let it go for one year. Everything will have smothered down and all you're left with is soil. You know it's ready because after a year you'll see that there's nothing but dirt and then you know it's ready. After that for our patio, we graded properly, laid new plastic down, set the stones over top and the weeds are extremely minimal. Should have done that 25 years ago but didn't know.

Absolutely get rid of that plastic. Plastic as a "weed" barrier is the worst material there is to use in any landscape. Plastic keeps moisture and air from getting into the soil and can cause that soil to become anaerobic and smell putrid. While plastic has been touted as being somewhat better at keeping "weeds" from growing a thick (4 to 6 inches) mulch will do a better job but still allow thye moisture to drain off and air to infiltrate the soil. kimmq is kimmsr

You are correct, floral-UK, it's Glechoma hederacea. My winter squash bed is 25-30 feet long, approx. 4 feet wide. Last year I planted two hills of melons at one end but otherwise the bed contained Delicata and a variety of Kubocha squash. I started lasagna beds surrounded by lawn, hence, the problem with Creeping Jenny as well as witch grass that puts out runner roots. The bed is kept weeded until the squash sends out long runner vines. There will be a general mass of leaves. Once I can't get underneath them to weed, the weeds start to extend from the lawn into the bed. Thanks for pointing out the water problem. I hadn't even thought of that since the weed block plastic is supposed to "let air and water through". I have used repellant spray for deer and never thought to look for one that might work for mice. I think it is mostly mice damage since the voles are too busy underground eating the beets and carrots. Last year we had a drought but we're out of it now, at least for the time being. We have a pretty high water table most years but if this summer is like last, I will have to do some extra watering. I'm glad I asked. I was mostly thinking about suffocating the soil with the plastic. I have a great earth worm population so it will be interesting to see if that changes if I use the weed block.