Bark Chippings

TOm Kelly

I have dug a trench one foot wide between the lawn and the concrete path to stop grass growing onto path and make it easier to cut etc. - in fact it looks better too - it is about 5 or 6 inches deep and about 75 foot long ... I will spray it with weedkiller and put down about 3 inches of bark chippings -but my question is: Do I need to put plastic under the bark .. when I have to spray weedkiller again will it go down through the bark ok?

Also bought mini chippings - did not realise they were so small - but I am stuck with them now. Thanks in advance.

10-10-20

Despite sounding like the restart of the Battle of the Bulge, I would comment that bark chippings aren't going to keep down every weed and a general tidy-up is required a few times a year to root out the dandelions and grass blades which poke on through. So yes, go with a polythene sheet under your bark and it will prevent the grass from 'coming over the top'.

GreeBo

wont the bark get sucked up into the mower?
Also I would worry about using a plastic lining, wont that help the bark to rot?

10-10-20

Greebo, The bark chippings have a 'life span' of approx 3 years, as printed on the external packaging anyhow, so it's not a major issue. They will need topping up from time to time.

GreeBo

True, but Id go with a permeable weed barrier anyway, otherwise you kinda hav a plastic bag full of water and bark...Id say it would be fly city pretty soon.

Anyways, I just use my lawn edger every few months and its grand...my handy tip is to water the grass before you edge it..makes it easier.

10-10-20

Ah - OK, good point.

TOm Kelly

OK Got it - the way to go is the permeable which will allow water and weedkillerto seep through.

No problems here with mower sucking up chippings ... I am on the old 'push model' ... I love the rattle out of it.

Mr Magnolia

Yeah, weed barrier cloth. Love those old lawnmowers. Does yours leave the 'lines' on the grass?

Couple of points on tree bark: It stinks for a while after you put it down. The wind can catch the smaller chippings and blow them everywhere. It has a relatively short lifespan.

Sonnenblumen

If you treat the area with a systemic weedkiller like Easyweed/Casoron G, you will not require such a wide band or even require chip bark. This type of herbicide has a number of particular +++ including it kills foliage, root and remains active within 4"/100mm of the surface and prevents any further germination for up to 12 months. Being granular there is no mixing, and is easy to apply, usually between October-April, does not harm any deep rooted established stock like trees/shrubs and best of all can be applied during wet and dry periods.

Perfectly safe for animals/birds etc.