Question
I recently decided to put black lava rock in my flower beds to avoid cats from coming in and doing their thing. My neighbor has over ten cats! My question is, should I put some type of fabric liner before spreading the lava rock? Based on your experience, is the use of lava rock a good option for flower beds? Please advise and thank you for your response.

Answer
Hello,

Lava rock tends to have sharp edges and that could be a problem. If this problem arises,clear the rock away from the base of the plants.

Lava rock will break down into a sand over time.

A weed barrier under the rock is advisable since weeds could grow in the spaces of the rocks and also soil will accumulate in the rock spaces above the barrier,fostering weed growth. I would advise a layer of rock no deeper than 2 inches and a rock size of no more than 1 inch.

Other cat barrier options could include galvanized welded wire or perhaps number 10 welded wire mesh,wooden stakes or a sonic cat repeller. Cats dislike walking on wire. Pine straw has an excellent track record at suppressing weeds and could eliminate the need for a weed barrier. It would be a much healthier alternative for the plants and soil than lava rock. Good luck.

Mark Harshman
http://www.mahdrafting.com
Email: [email protected]

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