"Plus, unlike plants, rocks don't become midnight snacks... just watch out for your brother-in-law. 😉"
Haha, true about the brother-in-law... but honestly, decorative rocks can get pricey fast if you're not careful. I've been looking into recycled concrete chunks lately—cheaper and still looks decent if you arrange them right. Anyone tried that route? Curious if there's a downside I'm missing before I commit.
Recycled concrete can definitely save you some cash, but I'd be cautious about where it came from. A neighbor of mine used chunks from an old driveway, and turns out they had some leftover oil residue—ended up with weird stains after the first rain. Also, concrete can sometimes leach lime, which might mess with your soil pH if you're planting nearby. Have you checked into sealing or prepping them somehow to avoid that?
I've used recycled concrete plenty of times without sealing or prepping and never noticed any real issues. Sure, some minor staining happens, but honestly, it's barely noticeable after a few months. The lime thing seems a bit overstated too—my plants never complained...
I've seen recycled concrete work fine too, but I'd be cautious about dismissing the lime issue entirely. Depending on your soil type and local conditions, excess lime can gradually affect soil pH and plant health over time. Maybe your plants are just hardy or your soil's naturally acidic enough to balance things out. Still, if anyone's planning a sensitive garden or veggie patch nearby, I'd suggest a quick pH test first—better safe than sorry down the road...
I've used recycled concrete plenty of times around septic systems and honestly, the lime issue seems a bit overstated. Sure, lime can affect soil pH, but in my experience, unless you're dumping massive amounts or your soil's already borderline alkaline, it's rarely a real problem. Most soils I've worked with buffer pretty well, and plants adapt more than you'd think. Had a client once who worried about lime runoff killing his tomatoes—three years later, he's still harvesting buckets every summer without any special treatment. Not saying ignore the pH entirely, but I wouldn't lose sleep over it either. Quick pH test won't hurt, but odds are you'll be fine.
