North Fort Myers • Lee County
Rock & Weed Barrier in North Fort Myers, FL
Owners along the river canals in North Fort Myers have had a hard lesson in what floats. FOX 4 has reported that the Caloosahatchee flooded Lochmoor Waterway Estates three times in recent years, during Ian, Helene, and Milton, and every flood leaves bark mulch scattered across lawns and driveways. Stone stays where it was put. That makes rock a practical choice for the lowest beds, drip lines under eaves, and strips along the canal side of a lot. Inland neighborhoods have a different reason to choose it: Lee County limits irrigation to one day a week from February through May, the driest part of the year, and a rock bed planted with drought-tough natives asks for far less water than a lawn strip. The base work is what keeps it tidy. Hodges removes sod and weeds, levels the soil, pins a woven fabric with overlapped seams, and spreads stone thick enough to hide it.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in North Fort Myers
Tropic Isles
Suncoast Estates
Plants and materials that suit it in North Fort Myers
- Coontie
- Muhly grass
- Saw palmetto
- Beach sunflower
- Florida river rock
- Mexican beach pebble
- Woven landscape fabric
- Steel landscape pins
Questions
Is river rock a good choice in a flood-prone canal yard?
It is one of the better ones. Heavy stone stays in the bed when water crosses the yard, while mulch floats off. Afterward the rock may need raking and silt removal, but it rarely needs replacing. Larger stone holds position better than small pea gravel.
Do rock beds help with the spring watering limit?
They can. Lee County allows one irrigation day a week from February through May in unincorporated areas. Rock beds planted with natives such as coontie or muhly grass need little supplemental water once established, so they handle that stretch better than turf.
Should rock go right up against my foundation?
A rock strip under the roof edge helps stop splash-back and keeps soil off the walls. Grade the soil underneath so it slopes away from the house first; the stone should follow that slope rather than trap water against the slab.