I've seen creeping thyme work wonders too, but honestly, mulch can still wash away pretty easily in heavy flooding. I've switched to river rock and native grasses—less charming maybe, but way sturdier and still looks pretty natural...just something to consider.
River rock definitely holds up better, but have you thought about combining it with some hardy groundcovers? Something like sedum or even moss tucked between stones can soften the look without sacrificing durability. I tried mulch once too...ended up fishing half of it out of my neighbor's driveway after a storm, haha. Maybe blending practicality with aesthetics is the sweet spot here?
"I tried mulch once too...ended up fishing half of it out of my neighbor's driveway after a storm, haha."
Haha, been there! I swear mulch has some secret vendetta against me—every time I think I've finally secured it, Mother Nature decides to rearrange my landscaping plans overnight. Last year, after a particularly nasty storm, I woke up to find my carefully laid mulch had migrated halfway down the street. My neighbors were nice enough about it, but let's just say I spent the better part of a Saturday morning sheepishly shoveling mulch back uphill.
Totally agree on the river rock suggestion though. I've found that pairing it with creeping thyme or even dwarf mondo grass works wonders. Creeping thyme especially—it's tough as nails, smells amazing when you step on it (bonus!), and doesn't seem to mind getting drenched every now and then. Plus, pollinators love it, so you're doing your bit for the bees too.
One thing I'd add from experience: make sure you have good drainage underneath whatever you choose. Learned that one the hard way when I first moved into my place. Thought I'd save some cash by skipping proper drainage prep... ended up with a mini swamp in my front yard every time it rained heavily. Not exactly the curb appeal I was going for.
Anyway, blending practicality and aesthetics is definitely key here. A little trial and error goes a long way—just maybe avoid mulch unless you're prepared for some unintended neighborhood bonding sessions after storms, haha.
Mulch definitely has its quirks, but honestly I'd still pick it over river rock in flood-prone spots. I've tried both, and while mulch does wander off occasionally, river rock can cause its own headaches if you're not careful. A few years back, I laid down river rock thinking it was the perfect solution—heavy enough to stay put, right? Well, after a couple big storms, the rocks stayed put alright...but ended up creating mini dams that trapped water in places I didn't want it. Suddenly, my yard had these weird little ponds popping up everywhere.
I've switched back to mulch since then but changed my approach: thicker layers and edging barriers help keep it in place better. Also, choosing shredded hardwood mulch instead of bark nuggets made a huge difference—seems to lock together tighter and doesn't float away as easily. Not knocking river rock entirely—just saying it's not always the magic bullet people think it is.
Totally relate to your mulch vs. river rock dilemma. I once had a client who insisted on river rock because it looked "tidier." Well, after one heavy rainstorm, their pristine garden turned into a mini waterpark—complete with unintended splash zones. Your approach with shredded hardwood mulch and edging barriers is spot-on. Sometimes the simplest tweaks make the biggest difference...glad you found something that works!
