Cape Coral • Lee County
Rock & Weed Barrier in Cape Coral, FL
Rock appeals to a lot of Cape Coral owners because it does not need the reclaimed-water sprinkler zone running twice a week to look the same in April as it does in August. It does need a properly pinned fabric layer, since wind-blown seed and the city's sandy fill will otherwise turn a stone bed into a weed bed within a season. Before rock goes near the street, it is worth knowing that the city treats the strip between your lot line and the pavement as public right-of-way that the owner keeps up, with drainage that has to keep working; loose stone that washes into the swale or the road becomes a maintenance problem. Around canal lots, keep in mind that the soil here already runs alkaline from crushed limestone in the fill, so stone beds work best with plants that like those conditions rather than acid lovers. Hodges clears the bed, sets the edge, staples the fabric, and spreads rock to an even depth that hides the barrier completely.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Cape Coral
Sandoval
Pelican
Tarpon Point
Plants and materials that suit it in Cape Coral
- Coontie
- Muhly grass
- Firebush
- Native lantana (pineland lantana)
- Florida river rock
- Crushed shell
- Mexican beach pebble
- Woven landscape fabric with steel pins
Questions
Does rock heat up the plants around it in Cape Coral summers?
Light-colored stone reflects heat and sun onto nearby leaves, so it pairs best with tough, sun-loving plants such as coontie, muhly grass, or firebush. Tender shade plants are better off in a mulched bed instead of surrounded by rock.
Can I put rock in the swale in front of my house?
Check with the city first. Cape Coral regards that strip as public right-of-way that owners maintain, and its Surface Water Management office reviews work there so drainage is not changed. Loose stone that ends up in the swale or on the road can block flow.
Will weeds still come up through the rock?
Some seeds will land on top and sprout in the fines, but a pinned, overlapped barrier stops most weeds coming from below. Pulling the occasional sprout while it is small, and blowing leaves off the stone, keeps the bed clean for years.