Every bed cover does the same basic jobs: it holds moisture in the soil, keeps weeds down, and makes the bed look finished. The differences are in how long it lasts, how it handles slopes, and how it looks against your house.
Pine straw is light, inexpensive, and knits together so it stays put on slopes, which makes it a natural fit for the rolling yards around Monroe and Waxhaw. It fades and breaks down within a season or so, so most homeowners refresh it once or twice a year.
Shredded hardwood mulch gives a darker, more formal look and lasts a bit longer. On steep beds it can wash out in a heavy summer storm, so it works best on flatter ground or behind an edge. Decorative rock and river stone last for years and suit modern homes and drainage areas, but they hold heat and are harder to replant through later.
Whichever cover you choose, the prep matters more than the material. Pull the weeds, cut a clean edge, and lay the cover two to three inches deep without piling it against shrub stems or the house foundation. Done that way, a bed refresh can carry your curb appeal through the whole season.