All gardeners understand the benefits of a good mulch during the summer months. Not only does mulching suppress weeds and trap valuable moisture in the soil, preventing it from evaporating in the harsh summer sun, but it can also enhance your flower beds if you choose the right mulch. Bark chippings look great, are environmentally friendly and eventually rot down into your flower beds, adding important nutrients to the soil.
What some gardeners don’t realise, however, is that mulching can help to protect plants through the winter months too. The most important thing is to know when and how to use the bark mulch.
Autumn is the time when most gardeners begin preparing for the dark winter days when most plants are dormant. After you’ve removed your annual plants and finished weeding for the year, it’s a good time to add a generous layer of bark chippings to your beds, paying particular attention to providing a generous amount around any newly planted autumn plants such as perennials, shrubs and young trees. This gives valuable protection for roots against early frosts, allowing your plants to thrive through the winter and into the spring.
The important thing to remember is that your bark chippings will help to keep the temperature of the soil beneath it at the same temperature as when it was applied. Therefore it is particularly important to add your mulch during a period of mild weather. Adding your mulch during a cold snap will defeat the object, as the soil temperature will remain cold and could harm your precious plants.
Using a mulch made from bark adds interest to your herbaceous plants throughout the winter months, offsetting the greenery perfectly and allowing hardy plants to show themselves to their best advantage. Once the spring weather is on the way, you can top up your mulch to prevent weed growth, saving you time and trouble and allowing you to spend more time enjoying the fruits of your labour.
Have a browse through our selection of bark chippings, which come in a range of colours, types and sizes to suit your requirements. Our friendly team are always happy to answer any questions you may have about the best way to use our products, so please don’t hesitate to contact us at www.stones4homes.co.uk for advice.