Volcanic Rock For Garden: The Pros And Cons Of Lava Rock As Mulch

The Introduction of volcanic rocks

It ties together the various elements in the garden and gives a natural flow to the yard, prevents excess evaporation, improves soil drainage, prevents weeds, and so on. In this article, we discuss the pros and cons of using volcanic rocks for garden mulch.

Lava Rock or volcanic rock is quite a popular decorative material in yard landscaping. It belongs to the category of igneous rocks and is formed when erupted lava cools down.

It is porous in nature and also has air bubbles that pop as it dries. The air bubbles are the reason why lava rocks are really light, and also why they have bubble-shaped holes throughout.

Lava rock is available in three colors; reddish-brown, black, and gray. The minerals present in the rock and the cooling process determine its color. The reddish-brown tint appears only if the iron in the lava begins to oxidize when it is cooling down.

Where does Lava Stone come from

Lava stone is created when volcanoes erupt. Volcanoes have been around since the beginning of the planet, so you can find both ancient and more recent lava stones out there. It is estimated that about 60 volcanoes erupt on a yearly basis. In other words, lava stone is made just like most obsidian stones out there.

The lava escapes out of a volcano at high pressure and runs down the rides. This burning liquid dries up eventually and hardens, becoming lava stone. The so-called stone of rebirth is available wherever there is a volcano – or wherever there was a volcano. With these thoughts in mind, the lava stone you find in commerce can be from almost any part of the world.

The bad news is that many volcanoes are in government-controlled areas and the commerce of lava stone is illegal in some countries out there. Indeed, you can buy pieces of jewelry, decorative items or other lava stone-based things, but packing lava stone from a volcanic country to take it away is illegal – therefore, there might be some restrictions out there, yet the stone is still widely available in commerce.

Ingredients Of Volcanic Rock

Volcanic rocks are primarily categorized into two main categories, the felsic rock, and the mafic rocks. The difference is dictated by their composition. Felsic rocks are rich in silicon and aluminum minerals, whereas mafic rocks comprise of iron and magnesium.

Because of their chemical composition, lava rocks classify as basalts.

They are not only rich in magnesium and iron but also calcium. They also constitute numerous minerals, including magnetite, pyroxene, plagioclase feldspar, hornblende, olivine, quartz, pyroxene, biotite mica, and amphibole.

How To Use Volcanic Rock When Mulching Your Garden?

For those with a semi sloped garden, using lava rock as mulch can do wonders. It is one of the most effective ways of preventing soil erosion while maintaining optimal soil health and promoting natural growth, except for weeds.

While nothing stops weeds permanently, lava rocks can prevent the invasion for quite some time. To use it as mulch, you can follow the steps mentioned below.

Clean the area of all debris and make sure the soil is free from weeds. If there are any that you miss, they will multiply and grow despite the presence of the lava rock or weed barrier fabric.

Identify the size of the rocks you want. Landscape designers recommend using a mixture of different sizes to add more depth to the yard. You can opt for rocks ranging from 2 to 4 inches for mulch around trees and shrubs. For the area around plants and flower beds, use rocks 1 to 2 inches in size.

Lay out the mulch at a 2 feet distance from all plants. You can pile it close to trees and shrubs, but the jagged edges of volcanic rock can pierce through plants as they are more delicate.

Three steps are all it takes to add volcanic rocks as mulch for your garden. You can get creative and use different colors for different areas. You can even use a mix of red, grey, and black to undermine the brightness of the red that many find awkward. It also adds a natural, earthy look to the yard.