Bark mulch consists of crushed tree bark, is a natural material and is often the product of choice if the garden is to be kept easy to maintain. Bark mulch retains moisture in the soil longer, preventing it from drying out during dry seasons, acts as a fertilizer and prevents weeds from emerging from the soil. Despite all the advantages, it does not always make sense to cover the flower bed with bark mulch.
Mulch protects against moisture loss and weeds
Bark mulch removes valuable nutrients from the soil
In this way, the material removes valuable nutrients from the soil, which in turn are no longer available to the plants. In turn, bark mulch causes the soil to become more acidic the longer the pieces of bark lie on it and decompose. This is especially true when the mulch material is made from the bark and wood of coniferous trees. However, you don't need to forgo an assignment if you follow the instructions below:
- Regularly aerate and loosen the soil under the mulch layer
- the mulch material should also be pushed aside for fertilization
- preferably plant plants that tolerate low pH
tips
Instead of bark mulch, you can also keep the flower bed weed-free with gravel.