Although there are many benefits to covering garden paths and floors, organic gardeners are skeptical. The reasons for this lie in the negative effects that bark mulch has on flora and fauna. These throw the living space out of balance.
Bark mulch also has its disadvantages
nitrogen deprivation
The soil fauna ensures that the bark pieces are decomposed into humus over the years. For their activity, the microorganisms need large amounts of nitrogen, which they extract from the soil. Therefore, it is not uncommon for the plants that depend on the nutrient to show signs of deficiency. Mulching with pine bark is a disadvantage, especially for shallow-rooted plants. Their root system extends just below the surface of the soil, where the lack of nitrogen is clearly evident.
Prevent
To avoid this problem, you should provide the soil with a balancing fertilizer. Horn shavings (32.93€) are well suited because they belong to the long-term fertilizers. Bark humus is an ideal alternative, as the substrate consists of already rotted chaff and coarse pieces of bark.
intolerances
Shallow-rooted plants, lime-loving species and ground-covering shrubs do not like bark mulch, nor do freshly planted perennials. Species native to steppes and prairies or growing on stony subsoil prefer nutrient-poor and calcareous conditions. The growth of such plant species would be adversely affected by covering them with pine bark.
These plants don't like bark mulch:
- Sedum and Euphorbia species
- herbaceous plants including yarrow, catnip, elecampane and man litter
- Mediterranean herbs such as lavender and various types of sage
- Ornamental plants such as spurflower, cornflower, delphinium or lupine
- a variety of ornamental grasses
options
Cover the subsoil in steppe and rock gardens with a mineral mulch layer made of grit (46.95€) or gravel. The materials are low in nutrients and ensure optimal water drainage. Limestone chippings also increase the pH value of the soil, so that Mediterranean and lime-loving plants feel comfortable.
snail propagation
If the mulch layer is in the advanced stage of decomposition, moisture will increasingly collect between the chops. A moist microclimate is created in which snails feel comfortable. They use the substrate as a hiding place during the day and place their clutches in the protected cavities.
remedy
Apply only pre-dried bark mulch to the beds. In order to avoid direct waterlogging, you should carry out the mulching in dry weather. Fluff up the substrate regularly to encourage better aeration.
extinction
Two thirds of all 590 native wild bee species nest in the ground. They are dependent on open ground and subsoil with sparse vegetation. A layer of bark mulch prevents them from gaining access, so excess mulching threatens biodiversity.
variants
To prevent gaps in the bed and still give wild bees a chance to look for nesting sites, you should plant the soil densely with native wild herbs. The different flowering and fruit ripening times let the garden shine in attractive colors all year round.
tips
Leave wild herbs until they wither because they provide an important source of food for insects visiting the flowers.