No matter how much we tend to our gardens, weeds seem to pop up out of nowhere.
Turn your back for half a day and there’s a small leafy growth appearing in a place you know you haven’t deliberately planted any shrubs or plants. To say it’s annoying is an understatement. You find yourself going round the garden in laps, week on week, and perhaps end up feeling like you’ve lost the battle against these irritating weeds. If this is you, stop. There are many old and trusted ways to try and prevent weeds appearing, bark chippings is just one of them but perhaps one of the best.
They offer much more than being a natural barrier and helping fight the dreaded battle against weeds. Bark chippings also protect the plant roots from frost in the winter and direct sunlight in the summer. They help to retain moisture in the ground which in turn helps plants to survive and grow when rain and water is short. To top it off, they look great whether used on garden borders, in flower beds, on paths, or in hanging baskets and pots.
Another plus side is the fact they are long lasting. Unlike trying to lay membranes which depending on how you use it need constant replacing, chippings are slow to compost and as such don’t need much ‘topping’ up. Once the main base has been laid, a gentle ‘top up’ every couple of years should suffice. In fact, even when past their best, they merely compost down to mulch, providing valuable nutrients to the plants and shrubs underneath.