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Bark mulch and feeding

debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
in Problem solving
Hi all. Daughter just cleared some turf ro redesign her garden and make new beds. Turf moved and ground rotavatted and planted up with some not all planned plants I was then intending to put down chicken manure before mulching but her hubby decided to put down mulch as a surprise? 20 bags of chopped bark later it looks lovely but can I now apply any type of feed to beds? Other than liquid?? Any advice gratefully received. She has all shrubs and perennials we are planning to bulk up with annuals until she can afford more plants. Thanks 
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  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    Hi Debs. Is it possible to just rake a little of the bark back around each plant you want to feed, spread the chicken pellets and recover with the bark? I think that is what I would do.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited March 2019
    I may be in a minority ( me and the RHS ) but I think pelleted chicken manure is a waste of time.
    https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=297
    Many better fertilisers available. 
    Devon.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I use it to give leafy veg a boost and it seems good for that  but I mainly use FB&B. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • SlumSlum Posts: 385
    That RHS link doesn’t suggest it is a waste of time. If says it is an effective slow release non-chemical fertiliser. If that is what the gardener wants then great. It is true to say there are many different fertilisers so if a gardener wants something with different properties there are choices.
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    It may come to that LB. Bless him he was so pleased and spreading 20 bags of mulch was no easy feat. Maybe a more granular feed would soak through the mulch more easily? Just trying to impress on daughter the importance of looking after the soil so it looks after the plants 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    If the ground's in good nick and she used some fresh compost etc when the plants were put it, I wouldn't worry too much for this year, Debs. The bark will break down a bit over the coming months, and she could add some food then if she wanted. 
    I use B,F&B too, and then mulch, but I don't always remember, or bother.  It doesn't  seem to be particularly negative for the plants as they get a good start when I put them in, and the mulching each year with compost or bark, gradually improves everything 

    If  she's going to have some annuals over summer, adding the spent compost in autumn is another good idea, and helps the soil structure a good bit.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • debs64debs64 Posts: 5,184
    It was previously lawn been rotavated and absolutely full of worms of all sizes I did pop in a bit of well rotted horse manure and that myo whatsit fungus so keeping everything crossed 
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited March 2019
    Slum said:
    That RHS link doesn’t suggest it is a waste of time. If says it is an effective slow release non-chemical fertiliser. If that is what the gardener wants then great. It is true to say there are many different fertilisers so if a gardener wants something with different properties there are choices.
    it does say 
    • Supplementation with other fertilisers may be necessary
    • However, poultry manure is low in nutrients compared to synthetic fertilisers such as Growmore, 
    Devon.
  • Ladybird4Ladybird4 Posts: 37,906
    I think it has been given it a really good start Debs. I hope that your daughter has found a little corner somewhere to stack the turves. They make super compost when they break down.
    Cacoethes: An irresistible urge to do something inadvisable
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    edited March 2019
    IMHO any fertliser which is " low in nutrients" and needs " supplementation with other fertilisers" is a waste of time. 
    Other are free to hold different opinions.
    Devon.
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