Using bark chippings as a decorative bark mulch is a popular garden design method that serves multiple functional purposes as well creating a naturally attractive appearance.
They are not expensive to buy from bark suppliers like Springbridge, with specialist mulch suppliers offering a variety of bulk buy options that can be delivered and offloaded wherever you need. You can use them to suppress weeds and make flowerbeds and borders easier to maintain, as well as layering them in pots and hanging baskets. A layer of decorating bark mulch will help soil retain water for any growing plants, and bark chippings also break down slowly to add extra nutrients into the soil.
Here are some tips on how to use decorating bark chippings and mulch to finish your garden.
Bark Chippings Borders
The decorating bark chippings you can buy from mulch suppliers will provide a natural barrier against unwanted weed growth in your flowerbeds. Put a layer about 5cm deep around your desired plants and flowers which will prevent sunlight reaching any weeds attempting to sprout.
Plant Roots Protection
A layer of bark mulch will serve as protection to your plant roots during both the winter and summer. Neither the frost in winter nor the scorching sun at the height of summer will be able to penetrate the layer of bark chippings, keeping the roots of your plants safe even during extreme weather.
Moisture Retention
Used as a mulch laid upon topsoil, older bark chippings such as Woodland Mulch help the topsoil to retain moisture to feed the roots of the plants. This is especially useful during dry spells or when watering regularly is not always possible.
Decorating Bark Pathways
You can use bark chippings as a softer alternative to harder aggregates like shingle or gravel. The decorating bark is durable and low maintenance, and gives the pathway a more natural texture to compliment the rest of the garden.
You’ll want to use quite a thick layer of bark chippings when creating a pathway, roughly twice as deep as when you use bark to cover topsoil. You can also lay a sheet of landscape fabric down first to preserve the soil underneath and add additional protection against weeds. This will help as the bark chippings will get moved around a little from foot traffic.
Finishing Potted Plants
The smaller bark chippings available through mulch suppliers are an excellent way to finish off potted plants and they will serve the same functional purposes as when laid on open topsoil. They’ll prevent weeds sprouting and help the soil in the pot retain moisture for the plant roots.
If you require bark chippings to use as mulch or decorating bark around your garden, then contact Springbridge via our website or call today on 0845 370 1921 for more information.