The Common Landscaping Practice That Is Actually Quite Harmful

If an online garden "hack" seems too good to be true, chances are, it probably is. You may have seen trending videos on social media platforms of creators showing off a quick and easy way to decorate the outside of their homes. In order to solve the issue of loose gravel on their garden pathways, many homeowners have decided to use rock or mulch glue for landscaping, which permanently sets the stones or mulch in place. As it turns out, this may actually be more harmful than beneficial to your landscaping due to the potential for contamination. 

Homeowners have opted for this simple trick for both gravel and mulch as they believe it will keep the ground cover in place, even in strong winds or when using a leaf blower to clean off the area, and possibly prevent weeds from growing (the glue itself doesn't block weeds but keeping rocks or mulch in place could). It's also been suggested that it can help prevent soil erosion from harsh weather. Unfortunately, as we've seen with some gardeners who have experimented with this hack, it doesn't always go as planned and, in fact, can cause new issues. 

When applied correctly, the adhesive and other rock glue alternatives for gravel landscaping can be helpful in a garden, keeping pathways neat and aesthetically pleasing. However, more times than not, this trick is implemented poorly, and weeds will still pop up through the rocks or mulch regardless. In addition, these products are typically composed of materials like plastic, acrylic, and polyresin. Not only can these types of glue add unnecessary microplastics to your garden as they inevitably break down, but they can also be toxic for pets and children if ingested. Since these materials break down, they would eventually have to be replaced every so often, making them more of a nuisance than a benefit.

Instead of covering your soil with gravel or mulch that you try to glue down, many gardeners recommend planting native species as an option for landscaping. Not only will these plants outgrow your weeds, but they can also outcompete them for resources like nutrients and water. If you want to opt for this non-glue alternative to weed control, a few plant options include Black-eyed Susans, lady fern, and wild ginger.