| Over the last few years, I have become more aware of bark chippings as an ingredient or substrate. While I have always known this material as a garden or park compound, I would say my respect for its versatility began when I was volunteering at Gazen Salts Nature Reserve here in Sandwich. There, it was a regular task every Wednesday to shovel it into a trailer behind the tractor and drive it to the desired location, empty it off, and rake it to make pathways and footpaths easier for visitors to walk upon. We have all seen it in game parks, zoos, and nature reserves that have access to it. It is an excellent material for practical, ornamental, and decorative features, providing a versatile and effective solution for various landscaping needs. While there are many benefits to using bark chips, it’s important to be aware of a few potential disadvantages, ensuring a balanced and informed approach to their use. Down on the allotment, we utilise the benefits to our advantage so far as we can spread it to make pathways throughout our plots. Some allotment committees in the UK forbid allotmenteer tenants from using it on the grounds, whilst other committees favour renters using it as long as they return the plot to the original layout if the renters leave. It wasn’t unknown for Gazen Salts to have mounds that equated to several tons on their grounds, and they would be used over a certain period. During the dryer months of spring through to autumn, we could quickly dispose of forty to fifty tons of bark chips throughout the reserve. But during the winter months, when the demand was still present, pathlaying and creation were usually lower, so bark chip mounds would sit and slowly decompose. They can build incredible heat when left to the elements, such as air, rain, and wind, and, on occasion, burst into flame, which is why they decompose nicely. The requirement for the allotment where I am is relatively high. Of the 78 plots, around 40% use bark chips for pathway creation. When bark chips are delivered or available, a few tons can disappear in a day, especially if they are dryer and not in any stage of decomposition. I don’t mind partially decomposing bark chips as they break down on the ground quickly. Many gardeners and allotmenteers are not keen on using bark chips on the grounds because as the chippings decompose [more so if they are dry chips, to begin with], they draw much-needed nitrogen out of the soils, which might hamper plant growth. This doesn’t affect me as l am using the chippings as a footpath substrate for the most part and have no expectations of the areas l am spreading the chippings except for footfall. However, if the bark chippings are already in an advanced stage of decomposition, this is less of an issue. Much of the stuff l have recently been using through this winter has been 75% decomposed material. I have used it both on paths and in areas where l will be growing plants because, at this stage of the decomposition, it allows for more nutrients to be fed into the soils instead of leeching valuable minerals out. The beauty of bark chippings is found in the many uses they have – be this ornamental and beautification purposes, path laying and creation for practical Application, top dressing for water retention or weed suppression on and in raised or flower beds. But one of the most valuable uses of bark chippings is in composting. When added to a compost pile, bark chippings can help create a balanced mix of carbon and nitrogen, which is essential for the decomposition process. This, in turn, leads to the production of nutrient-rich compost that can be used to improve soil fertility and structure. While gardening, I also have access to many materials, both brown and green. On occasion, I will shred down several bags of mixed foliage and create my own, either mulch, chippings, or compostable ingredients. If the gardening bags contain more wood and branches, they are used as bark-chipping material, and I disperse them in front of the dead hedging on the plot to blend the allotment pathways into a more natural look. Softer green wastes either end up in the compost bins or, occasionally, as a top-dressing green waste to the worm farm. I have also utilised the decomposed chips on the allotment as part of the thermal mass experiment for heating and insulating the worm farm. The residents love that the chips keep them warm and are also excellent for providing microbial snacks. Bark chippings in ornamental and flower beds offer protection and shelter to worms and other insects, which can be beneficial for the overall health of the garden ecosystem. However, some gardeners dislike using bark chips as mulch in flower beds because they can also harbour slugs and snails, which happen to enjoy the conditions the mulch provides when the depth is correct. The proper depth for a garden mulch is around five centimetres, which makes for an ideal environment for pests. However, it’s important to note that the presence of pests can be managed through regular monitoring and control measures, such as handpicking or using organic pest control methods. The proper depth for a garden mulch is around five centimetres, which makes for an ideal environment for pests, which is why some planters don’t like using it in gardens. However, arguments will always exist against mulches when growing plant life. Some theorists will also suggest that if the bark is from coniferous plants, it can affect the pH of the soils as they leech into the ground and make the soil more acidic; this is not specifically a proven point over the long game. During the greener stage of the bark chips’ life, there is a slight chance that acidity might leech into the earth; however, it is not long-lasting and more so depending on the bark chips’ composition. Some other benefits of using bark chips in a garden mulcher include water retention in the soils beneath and weed suppression. They can act as a form of insulation during cold weather, but the chips as a mulch can also help protect the bases of plants and their roots, promoting healthy plant growth and soil quality. The fact is that bark chips, of course, will have slight negative impacts on the earth in their fresher stage of life. Still, they provide many perks to the soil they cover as they break down and award valuable nutrients and organic matter, which aids microbial life and the organisms beneath the soil and improves the quality of your humus. The advantages far outweigh the negatives. However, there is always a for and against this stance. |
| Positives of Natural Bark Chippings include … Weed Suppression Water Retention and alleviates flooding issues Decorative and Tidy Feature Practical Application – playparks, footpaths Garden Mulch and aids to regulate soil temperatures Improves soil structure and fertility Composting Ingredients Plant Protection and extended life Increases microbial organisms in soil Adds valuable nutrients, minerals and vitamins to the earth Two-year lifespan Usually, arborists give away for free *** Negatives of Natural Bark Chippings include … It may hold acidic properties, especially if from coniferous trees It can draw nitrogen from the soil, especially when the chips are fresher May introduce fungal growth Can harbour pests such as slugs and snails Two-year life span |
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