Curb appeal is so important for a home. Many people do this by adding mulch, pretty flowers, or different types of rock. Rock is very popular among homeowners as it doesn’t wash away and holds its color for a long time. Since it is low maintenance and lasts a long time, it is easy to take care of and aesthetically appealing. However, it can grow moss or algae and accumulate dirt so it will need cleaning. Wondering how to clean landscape rock? There are some steps to do this that involve a leaf blower, water, pressure washer, and white vinegar.
Let’s take a look.
What Are The Benefits Of Cleaning My Landscape Rock?
Why do people clean landscape rock? Well, organic matter, debris, and dirt settle on the rocks or in between them. Then it leads to the following:
- Growth of Moss, Algae, or Mold – these will wear away the surface of the rock as well as make them slippery and they may have mold spores. When you are at this stage, you will need to replace the rocks.
- Not Aesthetically Pleasing – some people may think that algae and moss are pretty, but they can stain the rock, especially if you have white rock. If you clean the rock regularly, it will hopefully not allow your rock to get like this.
- Weeds Will Grow – dirt and soil that accumulates will allow weeds to grow through. Over time, the weeds make the garden look like it is not taken care of.
- Pests Will Appear – when you have leaves and debris that build up, you are inviting pests to join your garden. These types of pests are ants, rats, and cockroaches.
What Are The Supplies I Need?
- Broom or leaf blower
- Garden hose or pressure washer
- Dish soap
- White vinegar
- Scrub brush
What Are The Recommended Steps?
Let’s take a look at the steps for cleaning landscape rocks.
Steps for Cleaning Landscape Rocks
- First, start with a leaf blower so you can see if you get loose debris and dirt off the rocks.
- Check for landscape fabric or plastic sheeting – If you have either of these below the rocks, this will allow you to use a hose to flood the rocks with water. Then, the debris will flow out. However, if you don’t have landscape fabric or plastic sheeting, then you will need to be careful of root rot.
- Cleaning stained rocks – putting these into a wheelbarrow or buckets will be easier. Do this in small sections and amounts and then use a hose or pressure washer to rinse the rocks. Once they are clean and dry, you can put them back.
- Cleaning white rock – cleaning white landscaping rock can be done with a pressure washer and soapy water to get them clean and looking nice again.
- Cleaning rock containers – fill them with water. You can use white vinegar or dish soap instead of bleach to remove moss and algae. A scrub brush may be needed to scrub the rocks if the dirt is stubborn.
Other Recommended Maintenance
Now that you know how to clean landscape rock, it is a great idea to read up on if landscape rock attracts insects. Having this information allows you to determine if you should add more landscape rock to your landscaping.
Next, while you are in the mood for cleaning exterior items, this would be a great time to read up on how to clean brick pavers. As you clean the brick pavers, you can also turn your attention to cleaning the landscape rock.
Lastly, while you are cleaning the landscape rock, this is a good time to look at the soffits on the house. They may have mildew on them and using a few simple ingredients you used to clean the landscape rock can help as well.
When Do I Call A Professional?
There are all different types of landscaping for the garden. It may be complicated for you so you can always reach out to a professional for advice and guidance. While you are figuring out your garden and landscaping, you may find that you have other issues as well. This may be a good time to contact a home inspector or pest inspector and have an inspection done.
Conclusion
Landscaping is fun to plan because there are so many ideas! Knowing what to choose can be stressful but researching what looks best where you live may be the best thing to do. You will be able to know the pros and cons and choose something that is aesthetically appealing for the home. Also, one of the great things about landscaping rock is that it doesn’t attract bugs.
You don’t have to decide all of this on your own and it is a good idea to contact a local home inspection team. They can help with fixing any areas of concern. Call Waypoint Property Inspection to inspect your home in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Lakeland, Orlando, Palm Beach, Ft. Lauderdale, and surrounding areas.
