True 'river rock' is fairly large and hosta would have a hard time pushing through this without you leaving an opening unless it was a single stone layer which wouldn't be effective at all as mulch.

Thanks Jon. Thats what I was thinking too.

I know you can get "River Rock" in a lot of different sizes, the kind I was wanting to put in would be small, probably about the size of a nickel or so. But, that may still be too much for the Hosta to push through in the spring.

I think it would be possible, but, not without some kind of tall edging surrounding the hosta to prevent the tide of moving stone. Unrestrained the rock WILL move in on the plants and stunt them if not choke them out entirely.

I bought a house with rock mulch. It was worse than regular mulch as far as keeping the weeds down. And if I didn't remove the weeds right away, while they were little, it was a b*tch trying to dig through the rock mulch with a spade to get the weeds out.

Have you tried placing paper (I use paper shopping bags, folded) under the mulch? Don't put it too close to the plant's roots, but very useful for larger areas of mulch for suppression of weeds. It is better than the plastic weed fabric in that it's natural and breaks down. Also, no unsightly black wrinkles peeping through

Otherwise, you can use LOTS of mulch but keep the areas near each plant more sparse so the roots can breathe

I have used newspaper in one area around my house and I must admit it works better than the black plastic I have. I think the weeds are actually growing on top of the plastic in the mulch itself, I have thought about just pulling up the plastic weeds and all. It is Creeping Charlie, which is very hard to kill anyway.

I like the idea of river rock in theory. I think it might really set off the just as besutifully. Could you put weed block under it except where there are histas of course and then use a smaller rock like pea gravel or similiar over the crown of the plant? Another bonus would be that it would be easy to tell where your hosta pips we going to pop up.

Rocks hold heat and reflect sunshine up onto the plants. They also do not enrich the soil like mulch. Why not plant it in such a way that the plants, when mature, will mostly provide ground cover....each year they will get larger and more beautiful and you'll need less and less mulch over time. That's my theory and m.o. Also- I like shredded hardwood mulch here where I live. I have no source for pine straw, but I know people like that, too.

I always think plants and trees look a little stressed and unhappy when completely surrounded by rocks.

Just my opinion....not necessarily worth much.

BTW- sometimes it's pretty if there is large rock, boulder or grouping of medium rocks, in the bed as a design element, then plants alongside-- that would also require less mulch. I've seen that done very attractively.

I googled 'hosta with rock mulch' and found this link that may be of interest to you. I've seen hosta in rock beds in more commercial settings so knew there had to be pics on the web. Good luck with your project.

http://www.lansdownelife.com/2012/06/landscaping-intervention-part-2-lets.html

Thanks for the link ConnieMay. In my opinion rock definitely is easier on the eyes than weeds growing beside my Hosta. Although, I'm still concerned about the welfare of the plants, specifically the pips pushing through the next spring and the amount of heat generated from added rock. I would be anxious to see this person's hosta and how they reacted to the rock she had put down the following year after the hosta have been in the rock bed for a season.

There are a lot of variables, koffman, such as the heat density of the rock the transfer qualities, size etc.. As far as pushing through the rock, that is handled by keeping the rock away from the crown of the hosta.

Since you are in 7b this would be a decent zone for growing hosta. Adding rock, depending on how much sunshine the rock will get and your exact conditions, elevation, size of the rock, material of the rock, etc. you would increase your 'zone' slightly or maybe a one half zone (????).

I like rock, big rocks, I don't like it as a mulch. However, personal preferences aside, Rocks are an incremental increase in your 'zone'. Will it slip you from 7b to an 8a? Perhaps if you are close to the line.

In any event in your location I would look at any increase in heat as a negative for growing hosta. The more rock, the bigger the rock, the greater the heat coefficient the greater the solar heat gain. In cold climates using rock would extend the season, maybe extremely slightly, maybe noticeably; only a real life test would tell. Passive solar using stone or concrete to store solar heat in homes is very effective and was even used by the Anasazi Indians thousands of years ago who carved out their homes in cliffs facing South and such that the sun shone in to heat the dwelling when the sun was low in the winter and the dwelling was shaded when the sun was high in the summer.

I wouldn't worry about pips getting through as long as you don't cover them with heavy rock. I have had hosta that,over many years, grew through landscaping fabric and squeezed the fabric into a solid block of plastic with the hosta eyes growing and thriving through the holes they poked through. Unbelievable!!!

If you like a rock bed and are willing to trade off less optimum growing conditions for the hosta, then that is a personal choice that no one can say is right or wrong. In any event rocks can be removed, albeit not easily in many cases.

Jon

PS, a few years ago I watched as a contractor used a wet/dry vac to vacuum up pea stone behind a rock wall. The stone was for drainage behind the wall, however it kept falling into the hole as the contractor was digging it out for a deck footing. If removing the stone you may put in and eventually get tired of becomes necessary this might be a good trick to remember.

OK, I have shared enough of my ramblings and potentially useless thoughts.....for now.