Bark mulch is the gardener's ace up his sleeve for creative and easy-care garden design. This guide explains how you can make use of the natural material in a variety of ways and what the differences to wood chips are.

Mulch looks chic and is a good fertilizer

What is the difference between bark mulch and wood chips?

Bark mulch consists of peeled bark of native spruce, pine or Douglas fir. Higher quality products are made from the bark of fine pine, maple or mahogany trees. Thanks to the tannins it contains, bark mulch has a germ-inhibiting effect and effectively suppresses weeds. In the course of decomposition, the pieces of bark also release valuable nutrients into the garden soil.

In contrast, the function of wood chips is limited to a decorative covering of the earth. Since there is a lack of tannins and decomposition is slow, the wooden mulch material cannot serve to suppress weeds. The option of different shades with which the pieces of wood can be colored is advantageous for imaginative garden design.

Premium quality bark mulch - two important criteria

Bark mulch of the best quality can be recognized by a grain size of at least 16 to 25 mm. Smaller pieces of bark decompose into humus within a short time and lose a lot of weed-inhibiting effect. Freshness is the second important quality criterion. If bark mulch exudes a pleasant scent of fresh forest soil, you are making the right purchase decision. On the other hand, an earthy smell reveals old material that is already in the process of decomposition.

Professional mulching - tips & tricks

In order for bark mulch to be able to develop the full range of its benefits, the material should be applied professionally. How to do it right:

  • Remove existing weeds with a cultivator, hand shovel or weed puller
  • Spread nitrogen-rich fertilizer, such as horn shavings (32.93€) or guano granules
  • Spread the bark mulch in a layer 5 to 8 cm thick

The decomposition process of bark mulch first removes nitrogen from the soil. The decomposing, first layer of mulch contains enough nitrogen, so that further applications of fertilizer are not necessary. Rather, a nitrogen cycle is set in motion, which is self-sustaining if the mulch layer is regularly refreshed.

tips

Bark mulch is a natural and inexpensive alternative to natural stone in the garden as a path covering. If the budget has been largely exhausted after the new home has been built, coarse bark material also functions as a decorative temporary solution for the terrace or the seating area in the garden.

Category:

Garden design