Sanibel • Lee County
Rock & Weed Barrier in Sanibel, FL
On Sanibel, rock beds often fill the space that turf would take on the mainland. The city's code limits how much of a parcel can be planted in non-native sod and prohibits exotic sod and grasses entirely in the Gulf Beach Zone, so homeowners look for other surfaces around patios, side yards and under raised homes. Rock is useful there, though not as a substitute for planting: the code expects most in-ground trees, shrubs and groundcovers to be native, and a rock bed looks better and holds up better with native plants growing through it. The real maintenance issue is seedlings. Birds spread Brazilian pepper seed, and the city's eradication program has been fighting it since 1996. Pulling a city-listed invasive by hand on developed property does not require a vegetation permit. Hodges lays a pinned weed barrier, sets the rock, and leaves planting pockets for natives such as coontie or muhly grass.
or call (239) 301-9455
Where it comes up in Sanibel
Gulf Ridge
Santiva
Sanibel Estates
Plants and materials that suit it in Sanibel
- Coontie
- Muhly grass
- Saw palmetto
- Beach sunflower
- River rock
- Pinned landscape fabric
Questions
Can rock replace my lawn on Sanibel?
In many yards it can, and the city's limits on non-native sod make that a common question. Mixing rock with native groundcovers and shrubs keeps the yard in line with the city's native-plant standards. Ask the city's Planning staff if you are covering a large area.
Do I need a permit to pull invasive seedlings from my rock bed?
Not for hand removal of the city-listed invasives on developed property. The city requires a vegetation permit when invasive plants are removed with mechanical equipment, or by hand from undeveloped land.
Will weeds grow through the rock?
Some will, mostly from seed that blows or is dropped by birds onto the rock. A pinned fabric layer stops roots from below, and pulling seedlings while small, especially Brazilian pepper, keeps them from establishing.