Rocks or No Rocks?
As you guys know, we have been renovating a small house as a writing retreat. Most of the inside is done and now my attention is turning to the yard. I thought maybe you would like to weigh in on my plans! or even better, make some suggestions of your own.
First, a couple of items you need to be aware of. I am deathly afraid of snakes. It’s a phobia, I know. But around us is St. John’s Wildlife Refuge. In there you’ll find all sorts of wild animals including Florida Panther, bobcats, turkeys, etc, but of concern to me is what is call a Pygmy Rattler:
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons
These grow to only about 2 feet but they are quite aggressive. I want to make the area around my house hostile to them! 
Second consideration is that the community maintenance guys use a weedeater close to the house and have left their mark!
So I want to get all the brush and grass move further away from where I usually walk. Make sense? So here are my proposed changes:
Front of House
Altered Front
See the rocks at the side of the house? I probably wouldn’t go as extreme as the rocks I’ve photoshopped in. I realize the snakes can still be on these rocks, but at least they can’t hide in the grass! Plus, the guys wouldn’t need to weedeat so close to the house.
So what do you think? Rocks? Lava rocks? Mulch?
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:09:26
I’m with you. I hate snakes. I know Desiree Holt has rocks all around her house (she lives in the Texas Hill Country) for exactly the same reason. She put them out the day after she found a rattle snake sleeping outside her front door.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:28:04
Thanks Brenna for letting me know I’m not alone in this!
My concern about the rocks is that snakes are cold-blooded. The rocks will heat up nicely, giving them a great place to “sun” themselves!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:08:04
That was exactly my thought!
I love snakes, but I respect what dangerous ones can do, so I do agree it’s better to be able to see them than for them to have grass to hide in. But besides lying on top of them, wouldn’t they slither into them, too? They could still hide.
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:33:51
They might slither OVER the rocks but not really INTO the rocks….I don’t think. EEK!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:19:10
I’ve got no problem with snakes – it’s spiders I can’t live with.
I used to put cedar bark in my rose bed below my picture window, because it looked great, and kept the weeds down. But it breaks down eventually, and becomes weed FOOD!
Go to your local Lowe’s or Home Depot – they have the most amazing stuff! It’s made of car tires (yes, rubber) and it’s cut in pieces, and the cool thing is, you can get it in all different colors!
I got one the color of cedar shavings – you have to get up close to see that it’s not – it lasts forever, and never loses color! It’s not expensive, and I’m recycling something that never breaks down in landfills!
Win – win – win -win!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:30:20
I LOVE rubber mulch! It’s more expensive than rocks but I love that I’m reusing something rather than putting it in a landfill AND it doesn’t rot. I’m not going to use bark mulch. It does rot and makes great food for weeds!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:09:01
AND, if you fall off the roof our out of the window, you’ll bounce! Just like the kids on the playground! LOL
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:34:41
As you know, that rubber mulch would be much safer for drunk walking!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:57:01
I’m in Florida as well and want lava rocks. TO begin with, pointy-little-rocks = not friendly to snake bellies. Plus, they add a layer of fireproofing close to the house (the absolute worse thing to put near a house is palmetto; highly flammable). The downside to stuff like mulch or lava rock is that unless you put down a really, really good barrier under them, weeds will still grow up through them and will be even harder to kill off. I rock sort of wall like you show might be a better idea. Plus, LOVE the pops of turquoise! Add a turquoise door to go with it!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 08:57:39
Thanks for loving my turquoise! I haven’t done that painting yet. I have the paint. The door is an etched glass security door, so there won’t be a wooden door to paint
Feb 19, 2013 @ 07:58:50
Rocks are a good idea… You can also set some stepping stones or flag stone slabs to break up the rocks so it isn’t just the little rocks along the side plus give different texture and you can pick complementing stones in different colors.. not to mention with mulches (snakes can blend in) and you have to replace them due to the rotting or color fade…
Feb 19, 2013 @ 09:04:37
So true on mulch. The rotting is of real concern. I’ll have enough problems with grass and weeds without the rich base rotting mulch can give them!
And YES on the stepping stones!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 08:49:39
I vote rocks! they may sunbathe if they get over the sharp points, but at least you’ll easily see them.
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 09:05:52
You know we have some very poisonous snakes in Arkansas. I’m sure you’ve got them where you live! But I’m hoping I can SEE the snakes on the rocks or better yet…they decide to live somewhere else.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 09:30:24
Yes to rocks of some kind, stepping stones, and turquoise! Not a big fan of snakes (or spiders) myself.
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 09:50:37
Thanks Gwen! I love the turquoise. I can’t wait to see the final product once I get it painted. Hubby has been working in the carpet for the past week…replacing the carpet in his boat. A big mess out there. Decided I’d wait until he cleared out!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 10:42:54
I’ve had rocks and while they are easy, they’re not my favorite look. I like lots of lushness but that’s my thing. I’m not really scared of snakes either. I don’t like them, but I live in Louisiana so I see them quite a bit. They particularly like pine straw and we use that on my beds because it doesn’t wash out and if you use enough, it really does strangle the weeds pretty good. If you have a phobia about snakes, the rocks are a good choice. I don’t think lava rocks are particularly attractive and they chip frequently. Also because they are bigger, weeds grow through them better.
I’d suggest bed rock perhaps mixed with some pea gravel. I’ve seen people mix marbles in which is kind of fun and then you can put bigger stones as stepping stones and add a few planters with pretty flowers for color. Even setting those gazing balls here and there, would be unique.
Can’t wait to see it
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 11:01:37
I’ve noticed that a lot of the lava rock around here has either weeds pushing through OR grass clippings that were thrown there by the maintenance guys.
I LOVE the idea of mixing some marbles in there! What a cool idea.
I’d planned to put some planters with flowers and some of the reflecting balls.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 11:37:24
I know nothing from rock A to rock B, but I’m a big believer in spending big on stable or permanent improvements. Buy the material you love most of all. Over the years it will be worth the outlay. I’ve always been unhappy when we went with a cheaper/lesser choice on our house and property. Once you do it, it’s done.
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 12:20:14
Good comment, Keri about doing it right the first time! Hubby is NOT happy with me that I want to spend the money to do this but he’ll have to suck it up. I’m using royalties from Texas Two Step!
Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:15:14
When I saw the picture of the snake in your post, I almost didn’t read it. Yup, terrified. I don’t think mulch is a good idea because it will decompose and unless it’s really thick, weeds will grow anyway. The rubber mulch will work too except I like that about as much as rubber plants. Did you consider pavers? They’re not that much more expensive than the rocks and you could put a cute bistro table out there.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 14:36:14
sorry Shawna! It was all I could do to look through pictures and decide which one to use!
We do have some pavers we will be moving from the back to the front but not enough to do such a large area.
Feb 19, 2013 @ 21:52:15
HATE snakes!!! LOL I too say go with the rocks! Found this cool tip on Pinterest. You can sprinkle baking soda on them to kill the weeds.
Shoot. Maybe it will keep the snakes away as well! http://homeguides.sfgate.com/kill-weeds-baking-soda-30982.html
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Feb 19, 2013 @ 22:10:08
Melissa! What a great tip about baking soda and weeds. I’ll be trying that.