BUCKINGHAMSHIRE LANDSCAPE GARDENERS
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Garden Patios
    • Garden drainage
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
    • Landscape Gardeners Amersham
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Contact

How to make a low maintenance flower bed with bark

12/13/2022

0 Comments

 
How to make a low maintenance border
This article contains affiliate links


Well planted flower borders bring seasonal interest, elevation and colour to our gardens.

The most exciting back yards always have a diverse array of plant species displaying various visual textures and colours.

​However, there is absolutely no escaping the fact that flower beds are hard work to keep under control. This is especially so when borders are initially planted as plants take time to become established. 
​
Newly planted flower beds
During establishment flower borders can become gradually invaded by encroaching weeds and tree saplings.

Therefore the best strategy is to create a low maintenance flower bed with membrane and bark. Once planted, the combination of a robust weed barrier and bark mulch will prevent weed encroachment.

This means your plants can establish with ease and reach their maximum potential with little input.

​In this article I will show you how to create a low maintenance flower bed with bark, step by step. 

Should you put bark on flower beds?

​
​Bark mulch and wood chips help to retain moisture, prevent weeds, protect roots from frost and feed the soil. Therefore it is a good idea to put bark on flower beds if you can. 

What are the benefits of bark mulch?

​
Bark mulch adds a protective layer to the soil which holds in moisture and protects the soil from the sun.

As bark organically breaks down it helps to feed soil ecosystems which keep the soil naturally healthy. These microorganisms help to oxygenate the soil as well as distribute nutrients evenly.

​Bark also feeds the soil as it breaks down and improves the soils structure. This helps to alleviate and prevent the threat of compaction so plant roots can spread easily. 
​
New flower bed with bark mulch

How do I add bark to my soil? 

​
The best way to add bark to your soil is with a wheelbarrow and a rake. If you want to get the very best out of your bark, spread it generously.

The thicker the mulch the longer it will take to break down. Try to aim for a minimum of 40mm depth. It is much cheaper to buy bark chippings in bulk either in jumbo bags of tipped loose.

​I have found one of the best ways to shift bark mulch is with a pitch fork and long handled shovel. 

Which is better bark or mulch?

​
Mulch in many ways is a blanket term for various, organic mulching materials. For example organic bark chippings are a form of mulching the soil.

However, on the whole, mulches are materials which may break down faster and provide food for the plants below. Bark is thicker and woodier meaning it breaks down much slower.

This makes it popular for surfacing play areas and even pathways as well as utilised for mulch.

​If you want to cover your flower beds in a consistent looking material that lasts, bark is a better choice. 
​
Flower border with bark mulch

What should I lay down before bark? 


You do not necessarily have to lay down anything underneath landscaping bark. Allowing bark to make direct contact with the soil will enable the soil to breathe and invigorate soil life.

However, bark in contact with the soil will degrade much faster than on a membrane. Therefore, it is advised to add a generous thickness of bark when applying straight to soil.

To provide extra protection from weeds it is advised to lay a weed suppressant membrane underneath bark. The barrier between bark and topsoil will make the bark degrade much more slowly and look better for longer.

​For even more protection you can spread a 10mm layer of sharp sand under the membrane. This will allow surface water to drain away faster reducing the chance of bark decomposing prematurely. 
​
Weed proof membrane

How to create a low maintenance flower bed with bark step by step? 

 Step 1: Dig over the ground deeply and remove any perennial weeds or roots from the soil.
​
Flower bed soil preparation
Step 2:  Work the soil to an open and crumbly texture relieving any compaction and clods. If you have particularly heavy soil such as clay, work in plenty of sharp sand and organic matter. For more information on how to improve your garden soil read our guide here.
​
Grading flower border
Step 3: Supply and spread a 50mm layer of tree and shrub compost evenly to the surface of the soil. This element is not essential but will reap the best results for newly planted plants. 
​
Spreading compost on flower bed
Step 4: Supply and lay a robust, weed, suppressant, membrane to the surface of the flower border. Make sure the membrane overlaps by at least 100mm near joins. Peg down the membrane where necessary with membrane pegs.  
​
Laying weed membrane
Step 5: Supply and spread a 40-50mm layer of bark mulch or wood chippings to your flower border. It is more economical to buy bark in bulk such as jumbo bags or loose loads. Work out how large your bed is in square metres and then times it by the depth. For example, if your border is 30 square meters and you want 50mm of bark the calculation would be.

30 x 0.050 = 1.5

Therefore you would need 1.5 cubic metres of bark. Typical jumbo or bulk bags hold about 0.6 cubic metres of volume. Therefore, for this example, you would need about 6 jumbo bags of bark. 
​
Spreading bark chippings
Step 6: Supply the shrubs, plants and bulbs you want and set them out upon the bark surface. Make sure you have allowed suitable space between the plants for them to establish. 
​
Setting out plants of bark mulch
Step 7: To individually plant your plants, pull back your bark to uncover the membrane. Using a sharp knife, cut an ‘X’, planting, pocket inside the membrane. Excavate a planting pit and plant your plants individually into the flower border. Try to plant your plants so they sit slightly proud of the soil line. This will stop the bark from swamping the young plants when you re-spread the bark. 
​
Planting plants through weed membrane
Step 8. When you have completed the whole bed give all the plants good water in. The best time to plant a low maintenance flower bed with bark is autumn. This gives the plants plenty of time to establish before the next growing season. 
​
A low maintenance flower border with plants and bark
​Thank you for reading our article on how to make a low maintenance flower bed with bark. Below we have linked to more relevant articles you may find useful. 
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture


'As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases'
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Picture

    The Author 
    Paul Nicolaides 
    BA (Hons) Dip

    Paul Nicolaides has over 30 years of recreational gardening and 20 years of professional landscaping experience. He has worked for landscape contractors including design and build practices across London and the South East. In 2006 he qualified with a BA Hons degree and post graduate diploma in Landscape Architecture. In 2009 he founded Ecospaces an ecological landscaping practice which aims to improve social cohesion and reduce climate change through landscaping. In 2016 he founded Buckinghamshire Landscape Gardeners which designs and builds gardens across Buckinghamshire and the South East. This blog aims to provide easy problem solving information to its audience and encourage others to take up the joy of landscaping and gardening. 
Landscaping services across Buckinghamshire, Norfolk & East Anglia 

Hyde Heath, Amersham, Buckinghamshire

Rockland All Saints, Attleborough, Norfolk
Read our Google Reviews
Picture

What Our Clients Are Saying

​Paul laid a very curvy brick mow strip all around our lawn and also added a circular patio and added some new grassed areas. He paid so much attention to each brick laid to make sure the end results was perfect. Despite the wet and muddy work everything was made good and looked amazing once finished. His enthusiasm and knowledge for the garden and plants was infectious. He even fixed a couple of broken paving slabs that he saw down our side alley without being asked It is refreshing to see someone take so much pride and care in their work and we would definitely book him again for any other garden project."
Privacy Policy

Contact Us

Call me on 07535228686

    Newsletter Subscription

Subscribe to Newsletter
Photos from Maggie Hoffman, Aaron Volkening, Darlene Roelofsen, David Paul Ohmer, denis.zabin, Permaculture Association, Bill Selak, The fixed factor, The Garden Smallholder, Tauralbus, nan palmero, Lee Cannon, Monkeystyle3000, Darlene Roelofsen, nicolas.boullosa, Bryn Pinzgauer, cattan2011, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Matthew Paul Argall, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), tdlucas5000, Acabashi, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, Gilles Gonthier, Martin Hesketh, Owen P, steve p2008, Bennilover, *_*, blumenbiene, Julianna, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), Daryll90ca, Wendell Smith, Acabashi, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Permaculture Association, MizGingerSnaps, Tjflex2, wuestenigel, travel oriented, Aaron Volkening, shixart1985, SupportPDX, pete. #hwcp, MostlyDross, Local Food Initiative, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Oregon State University, perfectgrassltd, shixart1985 (CC BY 2.0), aarongunnar, Acabashi, Actual Brian Crawford, jeans_Photos, alh1, Darlene Roelofsen, Rromani from Romania, docoverachiever, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), tawalker, markfountain52, Maria Eklind, treegrow, deckerme, Kevan, richardghawley, Ivan Radic, Mark Wordy, garryknight, Matt Lavin, greger.ravik, Capt' Gorgeous, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, Wonderlane, Rudi1976, stonescape, Dinesh Valke, troutcolor, Acabashi, Juhele_CZ, Darlene Roelofsen, pikkuanna, tdlucas5000, Jocey K, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), Acabashi, focusonmore.com, BethinAZ, zoetnet, kurt.stocker, Monkeystyle3000, ell brown, Bryn Pinzgauer, Mark Wordy, infomatique, Linda N., Armcon Precast, Tinkers Moon, AnnSophieQ, mikecogh, Bob Klannukarn, Aiko, Thomas & Juliette+Isaac, ChrisHamby, Alessandro_Corsoni, Stiller Beobachter, GLVF, denisbin, MizGingerSnaps, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), garryknight, goforchris, Dick Thompson Sandian, alljengi, Paul Comstock, Kelowna09, Decorative Concrete Kingdom, Kanesue, BlossomPDX, Wonderlane, alh1, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), Paul and Jill, Gilles Gonthier, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), katunchik, thinkactlove, gidlark, jugreen_de, Ivan Radic, tompagenet, corsi photo, www.to-tuscany.com, Mark Wordy, UC Davis Arboretum & Public Garden, Aaron Volkening, Mark AC Photos, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, arripay, denisbin, alans1948, wallygrom, Frank.Vassen, alh1, Scottb211, LenkinDesign, wallygrom, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), juliamaudlin, dwblakey, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, mikecogh, jeans_Photos, Corey Leopold, Jeremy Levine Design, Kaibab National Forest Photography, Ciarán Mooney, onnola, 35mmMan, longlabcomms, nc.hort, Jamiecat *, pom'., Puddin Tain, Acabashi, tompagenet, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), Loz Flowers, Alan Stanton, Darlene Roelofsen, Ivan Radic (CC BY 2.0), denisbin, Darlene Roelofsen, zakzak7, Center for Neighborhood Technology, wht_wolf9653, LenkinDesign, HerryLawford, FoodCraftLab, Miranda J Wood, Key West Wedding Photography, Montgomery County Planning Commission, bienen-nachrichten.de, zaphad1, SupportPDX, Ronald (Ron) Douglas Frazier, itmpa, Judy Gallagher, SteveR-, kylehase, simonmgc, treegrow, garryknight, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, el cajon yacht club, cattan2011, Ed Bierman, mikecogh, Mike Prince, photofarmer, M. Martin Vicente, Darlene Roelofsen, La Citta Vita, Mary Gillham Archive Project, Puddin Tain, sustainablejill, ScotGov Rural, Macleay Grass Man, Andesine, denisbin, *_*, samsaundersleeds, onnola, James St. John, Pixelteufel, www.twin-loc.fr, The359, F. D. Richards, berniedup, Monkeystyle3000, Mark AC Photos, Mark Wordy, michael clarke stuff, La Citta Vita, jeremy_norbury, gbohne, jmeissen, blumenbiene, Scrap Pile, eibar, Allan Hack, 4nitsirk, Phil Gayton, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Ruth and Dave, AnnSophieQ, pete. #hwcp, regina11163, Matt Lavin, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, TANAKA Juuyoh (田中十洋), john.purvis, MikeHawkwind, Key West Wedding Photography, alh1, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, tristanf, shixart1985, blumenbiene, Paul Comstock, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Seattle Parks & Recreation, MCristian2013, Ruth and Dave, alh1, Matt From London, Ruth and Dave, Matt Lavin, ndrwfgg, Mara ~earth light~ free potential, radio silence, wallygrom, Maria Eklind, brewbooks, denisbin, Maria Eklind, F. D. Richards, Tauralbus, samsaundersbristol, carolinezimmermann.com, Maria Eklind, roger4336, MAMM Miguel Angel, Jeanne Menjoulet, Mark Wordy, Mark Wordy, stanzebla, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, wbaiv, Tauralbus, Sharon Mollerus, dsearls, denisbin, OregonDOT, Tatiana12, ell brown, puffin11uk, Croydon Clicker, LodestonePhotography, Ronald Douglas Frazier, Tauralbus, basak senova, Vicky Brock, Ivan Radic, dalbera, Melanie-m, La Citta Vita, Ross A Hall, alh1, Allan Henderson, Sharon Mollerus, SJU Undergraduate Admissions, dungodung, Sustainable Economies Law Center, Puddin Tain, alh1, Firebirdflame, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, gbohne, ell brown, grassrootsgroundswell, gertjanvannoord, thetalesend, Tony Armstrong-Sly, Mark Wordy, Hub☺, rcamboim, Sandrine Rouja, Oregon State University, Darlene Roelofsen, danciminera, harum.koh, Baugher Webmaster Services, HerryLawford, Gail Frederick, wallygrom, Neilhooting, Arnie Papp, foilman, Stephi 2006, Mom the Barbarian, Ivan Radic, 雷太, Arty Guerillas, marcoverch, JPC24M, Chik_v, mikecogh, Robert T Bell, LenkinDesign, sugarfrizz, mikecogh, heyexit, grabadonut, JohnSeb, alljengi, Permaculture Association, LennyWorthington, wallygrom, waferboard, wallygrom, STC4blues, gailhampshire, RJJ245, travelling_eidolon, Me in ME, prof.bizzarro, foilman, Maurizio Albissola.com, dejankrsmanovic, André Hofmeister, It's No Game, Sterling College, wallygrom, Permaculture Association, Martin Cooper Ipswich, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, InvisibleGarden.org, irio.jyske, MeganEHansen, F. D. Richards, John Rusk, conall.., thatredhead4, tedeytan, tawalker, Vicky Brock, Infomastern, Paul and Jill, Starr Environmental, don_macauley, s1ng0, orangeaurochs, John McLinden, karenandbrademerson, wallygrom, Tobyotter, Sustainable Economies Law Center, akhouseproject, chimpwithcan, heystax, Puddin Tain, winecountrymedia, Landscape Design Advisor, Darlene Roelofsen, ell brown, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, Michele Dorsey Walfred, Günter Hentschel, watts_photos, Morgaine, 阿橋花譜 KHQ Flower Guide, Local Food Initiative, tdlucas5000, Ruth and Dave, BulletproofSloth, London Less Travelled, Andrew Stawarz, Michele Dorsey Walfred, midwestlawnandlandscape, Darlene Roelofsen, sybarite48, Pam_Broviak, Gail Frederick, massmatt, Grow It, Catch It, Cook It, D H Wright, chuck b., Maria Eklind, wuestenigel, amandabhslater, timo_w2s, 666isMONEY ☮ ♥ & ☠, Wendell Smith, shixart1985, gailhampshire, mriggen, poppet with a camera, James St. John, liveoncelivewild, urbanfoodie33, wallygrom, onnola, shixart1985, Darien Library, emmacraig1, wuestenigel, laijos, matsuyuki, Monkeystyle3000, anoldent, alh1, mikecogh, HerryLawford, MeganEHansen, Michele Dorsey Walfred, cattan2011, ScotGov Rural, North Charleston, juantiagues, Rosmarie Voegtli, pstenzel71, RaeAllen, Edna Winti, Matt Lavin, S∆M.I.∆M, alh1, Starr Environmental, comedy_nose, Alizarin Krimson, jmlwinder, sebastian.rittau, mikecogh, Scott McLeod, alh1, Mark Wordy, shixart1985, transport131, Nick Saltmarsh, owlhere, Maria Eklind, agulivanov, woodleywonderworks, Darlene Roelofsen, Ivan Radic, Paakkonen Photo, ell brown, Smoobs, liesvanrompaey, stonescape, Darlene Roelofsen, AndreyZharkikh, Larry Lamsa, wallygrom, cazalegg, *_*, Charles Patrick Ewing, kamirao, cricketsblog, Mary Gillham Archive Project, deczak, Doolallyally, RASSIL, Smudge 9000, Loz Flowers, stanzebla, Acabashi, treegrow, jmlwinder, HerryLawford, edenpictures, wlcutler, shaire productions, S John Davey, Doolallyally, Percita, Prof. Mortel, Björn S..., mikecogh, @tc_goatwriter, *_*, Frank.Vassen, Robbie1, foilman, garryknight, EliteBalustradeImages, Derek N Winterburn, Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism, redirockphotodatabase, alh1, yewchan, Gunnar Ries zwo, hedera.baltica, itmpa, bluefootedbooby, john shortland, Fiberon, Center for Neighborhood Technology, Aaron Volkening, yellow book, M. Martin Vicente, David Paul Ohmer, amandabhslater, Dinesh Valke, jeans_Photos, grongar, arripay, Maria Eklind, Phil Gayton, Anton Rannala, amandabhslater, patrick_standish, Akuppa, cristina.sanvito, Puddin Tain, waferboard, Mark Wordy, Mike Bonitz, Juanedc, Björn S..., Clive Varley, vastateparksstaff, madaise, edenpictures, plentyofants, kitmasterbloke, barnoid, mark.hogan, chuck b., F. D. Richards, Ivan Radic, *rboed*, sustainablejill, Martin Pettitt, Thien Gretchen, Atmovera, mikecogh, Wildroof, tompagenet, jacilluch, wlcutler, stanzebla, La Citta Vita, Rob.Bertholf, Landscape Design Advisor, Aaron Volkening, osiristhe, MarilynJane, wallygrom, spinster, Maria Eklind, hedera.baltica, kewl, Dave_S., Julia Manzerova, Landscape Design Advisor, ActiveSteve, onnola, mikecogh, Ankur Panchbudhe, Phil Gayton, Mike Licht, NotionsCapital.com, Tatters ✾, ianpreston, Ruth and Dave, wallygrom, titanium22, T.Kiya, PAUL (Van de Velde) -Fotografie, stanzebla - voyage voyage, yellow book, Aaron Volkening, MeganEHansen, puffin11uk, Maria Eklind, TravelBakerCounty, Acabashi, Keith Laverack, quinet, anro0002, NSPaul, mikecogh, sybarite48, amandabhslater, ell brown, alljengi, wallygrom, LWT Gunnersbury Triangle, the real Kam75, mikecogh, lupisfer, piropiro3, Beverly Pearl, hedera.baltica, Deanster1983 who's mostly off, edenpictures, berriehol, Mick E. Talbot, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, string_bass_dave, danperry.com, Peter Curbishley, sybarite48, alh1, M. Martin Vicente, Amarnath, loutraje, conall.., goforchris, USFWS Headquarters, ianpreston, F. D. Richards, quinet, jmlwinder, carabou, wallygrom, wallygrom, engcon, nicolas.boullosa, wwarby, fringedbenefit, Crinklecrankle.com, Jim Morefield, F. D. Richards, MizGingerSnaps, Lauren Gutierrez, Tim Green aka atoach, daryl_mitchell, wallygrom, yewchan, Green Mountain Girls Farm, Darlene Roelofsen, HerryLawford, treegrow, Kirt Edblom, Eric Kilby, Barbara Walsh Photography, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, CaptainOates, Acabashi, Ninara31, amandabhslater, wickenden, ShebleyCL, sunshinecity, Ivan Radic, Matt Lavin, James St. John, quinet, goforchris, [email protected], cattan2011, Kaibab National Forest Photography, dollarclassics, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, Jocelyn777 Love Europe, Andrew Coombes, cwellsny, JeepersMedia, amandabhslater, wallygrom, alh1, Mark Wordy, Thank You (22 Millions+) views, USDAgov, Acabashi, F. D. Richards, Macleay Grass Man, Alexander C. Kafka, Darlene Roelofsen, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, wahoowins, andres musta, Mary Gillham Archive Project, wallygrom, Russ2009, Permaculture Association, Rennett Stowe, Ruth and Dave, F. D. Richards, Teddy Mafia, texturepalace, puffin11uk, georgegillams, Darlene Roelofsen, crustmania, denisbin, waferboard, denisbin, Audire Silentium, LenkinDesign, akfoto, MeganEHansen, amandabhslater, Ivan Radic, Matt Lavin, frankieleon, redirockphotodatabase, jeremy_norbury, PavingDirect.com, Justin Beckley, wallygrom, Acabashi, 阿橋花譜 KHQ Flower Guide, wallygrom, Acabashi, talaakso, Robert.Pittman, Jeanne Menjoulet, quattroman76, Björn S..., Rushen!, Ivan Radic, sam_churchill, pdinnen, amandabhslater, La Citta Vita, judy dean, Landscape Design Advisor, charcoal soul, jinxmcc, m.borden, Landscape Design Advisor, Andreas März, gliak00, romana klee, masae-photo, Derek N Winterburn, daryl_mitchell, trekkyandy, Local Food Initiative, D.Eickhoff, *_*, BlossomPDX, goosmurf, Peter O'Connor aka anemoneprojectors, Doolallyally, Jim Morefield, "Besenbinder", Anika Malone, Elsa Blaine, Local Food Initiative, wallygrom, Isaszas, @tc_goatwriter, M. Martin Vicente, watts photos1, harum.koh, platycryptus, hardworkinghippy : La Ferme de Sourrou, NRCS Oregon, Darlene Roelofsen, Ivan Radic, MizGingerSnaps, Me in ME, John Brighenti, adamnsinger, jeremy_norbury, gailhampshire, pdbreen, Torquay Palms, wallygrom, MeganEHansen, jlodder, randihausken, Tony Webster, onnola, Earl Ruby, The National Guard, Bods, amandabhslater, Bennilover, corsi photo, PavingDirect.com, Tobyotter, MeganEHansen, andres musta, Darlene Roelofsen, Tony Webster, Darlene Roelofsen, Mike Bonitz, Aaron Volkening, conall.., Bennilover, mikecogh, marthelelièvre, ell brown, cvtperson, Ruth and Dave
  • Home
  • Landscaping
    • Decking
    • Driveways
    • Garden Patios
    • Garden drainage
    • Fencing
    • Turfing
    • Planting
    • Landscape Gardeners Amersham
  • Design
    • Landscaping Ideas
  • Privacy Policy
  • News
  • Contact