Decorative bark mulch

kkelly77

Do you need to use any sort of membrane material when laying decorative bark? I know it's used for decorative stone but not sure about the wood mulch. I only have an area of about 1.5' x 18' to cover. Thanks.

paddy147

kkelly77 wrote: »

Do you need to use any sort of membrane material when laying decorative bark? I know it's used for decorative stone but not sure about the wood mulch. I only have an area of about 1.5' x 18' to cover. Thanks.

You can put down weed membrane (Mypex) if you want to stop any weeds growing and you dont intend to plant any shrubs or flowers.

But if you want to plant some nice blubs,flowers or plants that will spread out as ground cover,then theres no real point in weed membrane on such a narrow plot..

I just had this done too (20 feet by 2 feet wide raised bed built) and opted for just the bark mulch.

Planted bare root hornbeams and then underplanted with 140 "lilly of the valley" shoots.

These spread out and multiply and give lovely white scented flowers from mid may onwards.:)

kkelly77

I have a similar plot. Although, I have some variegated holly that's been planted since '08. I'm not planning to put anything else down in that plot.

Any recommendations for a some decent, modestly priced edging Paddy? I have a second plot I'd like to use the bark on too but would like to plant as well.

berrypendel

paddy147 wrote: »

Planted bare root hornbeams and then underplanted with 140 "lilly of the valley" shoots.

Is that wall in shade all the time? If is not what would you put in front of a north facing wall in shade all the time?

Is your horn beam upright hornbeam? Could you underplant with red robin?

paddy147

berrypendel wrote: »

Is that wall in shade all the time? If is not what would you put in front of a north facing wall in shade all the time?

Is your horn beam upright hornbeam? Could you underplant with red robin?

The wall gets some sunshine in the daytime.Its an east-east south facing wall.The bareroot hornbeams are 3 feet tall and were bought in a bundle of 25,and planted last weekend.

Unfortunately I cant help you out with the other parts of your post,as Im not a horticulturalist and would not be in a position to give you propper advice.

Im only a gardening enthusiast,shall we say.:)

berrypendel

paddy147 wrote: »

The wall gets some sunshine in the daytime.Its an east-east south facing wall.The bareroot hornbeams are 3 feet tall and were bought in a bundle of 25,and planted last weekend.

Unfortunately I cant help you out with the other parts of your post,as Im not a horticulturalist and would not be in a position to give you propper advice.

Im only a gardening enthusiast,shall we say.:)

OK thanks
for some reason i thought you were

paddy147

berrypendel wrote: »

OK thanks
for some reason i thought you were

Nope,I work in the IT/Construction sector.

My girlfriend is a horticulturalist and she got me into the gardening (had no interest in gardening,until I met her),and I now find it very enjoyable and relaxing too.:)

Sgt Pepper 64

paddy147 wrote: »

You can put down weed membrane (Mypex) if you want to stop any weeds growing and you dont intend to plant any shrubs or flowers.

But if you want to plant some nice blubs,flowers or plants that will spread out as ground cover,then theres no real point in weed membrane on such a narrow plot..

I just had this done too (20 feet by 2 feet wide raised bed built) and opted for just the bark mulch.

Planted bare root hornbeams and then underplanted with 140 "lilly of the valley" shoots.

These spread out and multiply and give lovely white scented flowers from mid may onwards.:)

That looks really good, did you do all the hard lanscaping yourself?

paddy147

Sgt Pepper 64 wrote: »

That looks really good, did you do all the hard lanscaping yourself?

Thanks.

My girlfriend did it all from start to finish.....(digging up/removing old lawn and digging out builders left over/burried sharp sand and hardcore,building up and leveling off new raised topsoil area,all the railway sleeper work,re-jigging the block paving to suit,and then planting it all).


All I did was make the tea,and say a big big thankyou to her for transforming a dull drab weedy garden into something much much nicer and enjoyable to look at.:)

I have lots of giant Alliums growing up out of the chip bark now,and cant wait to see them flower later on in the year and the bees buzzing around them.