Here's how to mulch your beds properly

What is bark mulch?

Bark mulch is small, not yet decomposed pieces of tree bark that are produced as waste during wood processing. You can get the mulch material with different grain sizes, open or packed in large bags, from specialist shops.

However, there is no uniform regulation as to how bark mulch must be made. There is not even a legal requirement that this material be made from pure bark. One hundred percent foreign substances are even allowed, provided that they are wood or plant material. Therefore, pay attention to the RAL quality mark, which stands for tested, single-variety quality.

How does the mulch layer from bark work?

Three properties of the mulch material are responsible for the good suppression of weeds:

• Almost all seed-forming weeds are light germs. No light can penetrate through the dense layer of mulch, so that they no longer open.
• The loose structure of the bark mulch hardly offers the roots any support. Plants that grow sparsely through the layer can be
  Weeding is child's play.
• During the decomposition process, tannins are released, which have an adverse effect on the growth of the weeds.

How is bark mulch correctly applied in the bed?

Do not choose a grain size that is too small, as this can hinder the exchange of oxygen in the soil. As a rule of thumb, the larger the area to be covered, the larger the pieces of bark mulch should be.

Apply the material here as follows:

• Loosen the soil between the plants.
• Remove all weeds including the roots.
• Spread bark mulch in a seven to ten centimeter thick layer.
• The simultaneous application of nitrogen fertilizers is recommended, as the conversion of bark mulch removes nitrogen from the soil.
• Regularly replenish the rotted mulch layer.

For which plants is bark mulch suitable?

Unfortunately, bark mulch is not a panacea that is equally suitable for all crops. at

• annual plants,
• Bulb flowers,
• Strawberries,
• in the vegetable patch
• in the rock garden
• as well as in the herb bed

the mulch material should not be used. These plants do not tolerate the acidic pine bark. Here you can click to suppress weeds Lawn clippings or use another material as a weed-suppressing top layer.

Acid and humus-loving plants such as:

• Ferns
• Hydrangeas
• Rhododendrons

however, thrive particularly well thanks to the protective layer of bark mulch. Freshly planted trees and shrubs in the shade also benefit from a layer of bark mulch.