Landscaping around a pole shed?

[weatherby460]

What is commonly done for landscaping around the sides of a pole shed that gets no use? Thanks

I assume mulch?

 

[sublime68charger]

Mulch or just let grass grow up right next to the shed, or some river rock to give you a nice look also,

 

[DC73]

I read a good landscaping article years ago that suggested keeping all vegetation 3 feet away from structures to minimize indoor insect pests. The same article recommended avoiding the creation of hiding places around the perimeter for spiders, rodents, roaches, etc. Just food for thought.

DC

 

[weatherby460]

I read a good landscaping article years ago that suggested keeping all vegetation 3 feet away from structures to minimize indoor insect pests. The same article recommended avoiding the creation of hiding places around the perimeter for spiders, rodents, roaches, etc. Just food for thought.

DC

Even grass?

 

[jives]

I would opt for landscape fabric laid down under gravel for at least a 3-4 foot perimeter. The fabric is to keep down weeds. The benefits are
1. Reduced mud splash on the walls.
2. Help keep critters away, including hiding humans.
3. Allows drainage, especially if sloped away from building.
4. Provides a nice walkway around the building
5. Can grow grass right up to the gravel, provides easy mowing without coming close to the building. No need for weed-wacking.
6. Cheap.

 

[larry_g]

I would opt for landscape fabric laid down under gravel for at least a 3-4 foot perimeter. The fabric is to keep down weeds. The benefits are
1. Reduced mud splash on the walls.
2. Help keep critters away, including hiding humans.
3. Allows drainage, especially if sloped away from building.
4. Provides a nice walkway around the building
5. Can grow grass right up to the gravel, provides easy mowing without coming close to the building. No need for weed-wacking.
6. Cheap.

I have the above with the addition of having a drain tile under the cloth to carry the water away as I'm on a hillside and cannot slope the ground away from the building as much as I would like.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I read a good landscaping article years ago that suggested keeping all vegetation 3 feet away from structures to minimize indoor insect pests. The same article recommended avoiding the creation of hiding places around the perimeter for spiders, rodents, roaches, etc. Just food for thought.

DC

If it is up off the ground a few inches like my shed, eliminating plantings around it also deters ground hogs and such from finding it attractive for nesting under it.

Tommy

 

[DC73]

Even grass?

Yes, even grass. I've forgotten the particulars but the article mentioned several pests including ants that grass can bring closer to the structure.

Tough to do in practice but it works. My last house had a lot of vegetation near it and my current house has very little. I see far fewer insects in my current house than I ever did in the previous one.

DC

 

[gregtwojeeps]

I read a good landscaping article years ago that suggested keeping all vegetation 3 feet away from structures to minimize indoor insect pests. The same article recommended avoiding the creation of hiding places around the perimeter for spiders, rodents, roaches, etc. Just food for thought.

DC

Right on. ^^^^^ When I was maintaining a 10 million commercial building the landscape guy and I went round and round and round over this issue. Seems like all the landscape design engineers/installers just have to have their greenery every lineal foot surrounding the building about two feet away from the exterior wall...

Then, the stuff is allowed to grow up against the building, the tree limbs drag on the roof...and EVERY damn outside electrical outlet/water wall hydrant is made inaccessible by a bush or tall flower bed. And don't even ask for enough clearance from the groundskeeper for enough clear space around the buildings exterior... to be able to sit a extension ladder down safely and lean it against the wall... without sitting in on a bush or flowers.

 

[DC73]

Right on. ^^^^^ When I was maintaining . . .

I tend to forget about the maintenance aspect but you are very correct. My current house will be 10X easier to paint than my previous house. I also have complete and unfettered access for cleaning windows, etc.

DC

 

[BDT/NWMN]

Ideal landscape would include slope away from wall with a good drain path. Cover with landscape fabric, and 3/4 to 1" rock, extended three feet from the walls... Doing this will stop the rain that comes off the roof slope from splashing mud on the wall, give you a drier building, and make it far easier to mow.. It is low cost, simple, and don't hurt the looks; either..

I agree with jives

 

[AMCguy]

Right on. ^^^^^ When I was maintaining...

This man has walked a mile or two in my shoes.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Another thing that you should never do is use regular wood chips for bedding. You'll have carpenter ants and termites in less than one season.

Tommy

 

[bparksntx]

I used decomposed granite. Before and after pics

<a href="http://s234.photobucket.com/user/bparksntx/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0502_zpsgyo88zrm.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/bparksntx/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0502_zpsgyo88zrm.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0502_zpsgyo88zrm.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s234.photobucket.com/user/bparksntx/media/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0505_zpsj26naki8.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee98/bparksntx/Mobile%20Uploads/IMAG0505_zpsj26naki8.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo IMAG0505_zpsj26naki8.jpg"/></a>

 

[racerex]

3' of 3/4" gravel around the perimeter, landscape fabric and drain tile on one side.

 

[Jamie V]

I just addressed this around my pole barn this summer. I poured a concrete apron around it for so many of the mentioned issues.

 

[rburke65]

I put down 4'x8' sheets of styrofoam out from the shop, covered in weed guard and then river rock. Trying to repress the frost and keep weeds/grass from building.

 

[kbs2244]

If you want to "soften" the look I would recommend a spring flowering plant called "Hostas".
They are near indestructible and often given away by gardeners.
They will grow apx. 12 inches tall, and have full leaves.
Some kinds have a white edge around the edge of the leaf.
Check around.
In you area they are very common.

 

[kj_mustang]

If you want to "soften" the look I would recommend a spring flowering plant called "Hostas".
They are near indestructible and often given away by gardeners.
They will grow apx. 12 inches tall, and have full leaves.
Some kinds have a white edge around the edge of the leaf.
Check around.
In you area they are very common.

And will be eaten by deer like candy. They love Hostas.

 

[ABADWILLYS]

[QUOTEAnd will be eaten by deer like candy. They love Hostas][/QUOTE]

and you just spray them with "deer fence" or a similar product a few times a year and they stay away

 

[lakeroadster]

So much of this really depends on where you live.

When I lived in Ohio we had a Lester building erected. I put down chicken wire on the sides and back of the building, extending out about 40 inches, and then put down limestone rock, not chips and dust, rock, #2's as I recall.

The chicken wire kept burrowing varmits out from under the slab. The limestone kept mud from splashing up on it.

The front of the building had a 4 ft concrete slab.

​

.
.
Most of the folks where we live now, in the mountains of Colorado, do absolutely nothing, and it works equally as well.

_____
John

 

[weatherby460]

I am leaning towards river rock...it would cost $750 to have it installed. Brown mulch is $550. $1100 for red or black granite rock.

What would be a good choice for this brown/beige shed?

Thanks

 

[lakeroadster]

River rock would work great and look good too. Put the chicken wire down 1st...

And that's a nice looking pole BARN... sure ain't no shed!

_____
John

 

[weatherby460]

I think river rock will be what I use. I guess I will wait till spring to let it all settle.