Mainly from the logging of
maritime pine
(cutting waste), pine bark mulch has many benefits appreciated in the ornamental garden.
Packaged in different sizes, you should know what you want to do with it before buying it.
What are the benefits of pine bark?
Pine bark is an organic material which, used in natural mulching, contributes:
To limit water evaporation and the development of weeds;
To protect the roots from the cold;
To protect the soil from erosion and compaction linked to bad weather and trampling, like any organic mulch.
But beyond that, it has other qualities that are specific to it: thanks to its laminated structure, it has a large capacity for
storing water
from irrigation or rain, which makes it possible to maintain keep the soil fresh for a long time and redistribute water to the plants when they need it.
Our selection of pine bark at the best price!
Its coarse gauge promotes the circulation of air and water, down to the ground.
Its weight makes it stable against the wind and its resistance to bad weather gives it the advantage of lasting several years (up to 7 years for the largest calibers).
The little extra:
its beautiful red-brown color which highlights the foliage of the plants.
Also read: The BRF: why and how to use it in the garden?
What are the disadvantages of pine bark?
However, some disadvantages should be highlighted:
The decomposition of the bark is slow:
if it is an advantage for those who do not wish to renew their mulch every year, on the other hand, it can be considered as a handicap for those who rely on the transformation of their mulch into humus to enrich the soil. soil of his garden.
It is also a mulch that is not used in the vegetable garden;
The acidity of pine bark:
depending on its degree of composting, the pH of pine bark can be very acidic (up to 4).
But its acidity weakens over the years.
In fact, it seems that it accentuates the acidity of a soil, only when it is already acidic.
Pine bark is an organic material that can limit water evaporation and the development of weeds!
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No use without permission.
Using pine bark as mulch
Long feared because of the risk of acidification, they have become the preferred mulch for heather plants, but it would be a shame to limit their use to rhododendrons and other azaleas.
Due to their longevity, they are perfect for mulching perennial
plants
, shrubs and all places where you are not going to scrape the soil every 4 mornings, whether in the garden or in planters
and
pots.
Depending on its use, the choice of caliber differs: large calibers (25/40 mm or more) are perfect for mulching shrubs and trees (to be placed on a first layer of finer caliber), while for flowerbeds, we opt for a medium caliber (10/25 mm);
the small calibers (5/10 mm) being reserved to protect planters and pots or to serve as a substrate for orchids.
Also readPozzolan: the disadvantages of this volcanic stone for mulching your plants
Using pine bark as landscaping
Pine bark can also be used to cover pathways or
paths
.
In this case, we will preferably use medium-sized bark, composted for several years or mixed with BRF, in order to make it flexible and comfortable.
Tip: install borders
to
prevent the mulch from being scattered on the lawn during the unwanted comings and goings of the dog, cat or birds.
How much pine bark per m²?
Install borders to prevent mulch from being scattered on the lawn during the unwanted comings and goings of dogs, cats or birds.
Copyright (c) 2020 ronstik/Shutterstock.
No use without permission.
The thickness of the mulch depends on the size of the bark and its use:
Very large calibers (40/60 mm): 10 cm to 12 cm thick, or approximately 100 L or 120 L;
Large calibers (25/40 mm): 4 to 9 cm thick, or approximately 70 L;
Medium calibers (10/25 mm): 4 to 6 cm thick, or approximately 50 L;
Small calibers (5/10 mm): 3 cm thick, or 30 L.
All these sizes are easily found in
garden centers and DIY supermarkets
: the pine bark is packaged in bags.
For larger projects, some brands offer bulk sales (you must be equipped with a trailer) or in a big bag.
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