Are rock coverings a better groundcover?
No. Lava rock, pea gravel and cracked granite will not decompose. While this is good because you won’t ever have to add more rock, it is bad because you are not returning any nutrients into the soil through the natural decomposition process. Also, rock will not insulate the soil as well as mulch because rock absorbs much more heat, a serious concern during hot Texas summers. Finally, rock ground coverings cost three to six times as much money per cubic yard.
