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Bark chips

frankiejpmillerfrankiejpmiller Posts: 25
in Plants
Hi all
Last year I built a pond which I ABSOLUTELY live
Around it, we laid weed membrane, put bark chips on top and then strategically planted a good few plants

I know its only a year in, but the plants haven't exactly prospered and I'm wondering if it's because of the weed membrane maybe blocking out light/water?

Question is, if I remove the weed membrane and just leave the bark, am I just going to be invaded by weeds?

Thank you 

Posts

  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Hmmmmm. 

    What are the plants? 

    What’s your soil like?

    What’s the drainage like?

    Did you water the plants enough in their first year (considering we had a long hot summer)?

    Weeds are much easier to get rid off if they root on top of membrane laid under bark/mud that has fallen amongst the bark. 

    Did you leave a space around the bottom of the plant so that water can get to it or did you cut out an X in the membrane and kinda flap it back around? 

    Pics would be handy 👍🏼




  • frankiejpmillerfrankiejpmiller Posts: 25
    TheGreenMan said:
    Hmmmmm. 

    What are the plants? 

    What’s your soil like?

    What’s the drainage like?

    Did you water the plants enough in their first year (considering we had a long hot summer)?

    Weeds are much easier to get rid off if they root on top of membrane laid under bark/mud that has fallen amongst the bark. 

    Did you leave a space around the bottom of the plant so that water can get to it or did you cut out an X in the membrane and kinda flap it back around? 

    Pics would be handy 👍🏼




    Superb reply, thank you!
    I'll take some pics tomorrow when it's light, thanks again!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Yes - there are lots of possibilities @frankiejpmiller. Photos will help.  :)
    The secret to a good pond is often what's around it as much as what's in it. If you can tell us the plants you put in and also what the soil is like under the membrane that will also help. The membrane itself isn't necessarily a problem if the plants have a decent growing medium, and have been well watered as @TheGreenMan says. The bark isn't necessarily a problem either if all's well below ground and you have the right plants for the site. 
    Your climate is also a factor, as well as the positioning/aspect of the pond, as that affects how well they grow on.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Silver surferSilver surfer Posts: 4,719
    What sort of weed membrane was it?

    Presume it was one that allows water to go through it ...but just want to check.

    https://www.google.com/search?q=weed+membrane&client=firefox-b-d&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwitjd6hvbP-AhVIi1wKHa5MCRcQ_AUoAnoECAEQBA&biw=1280&bih=595&dpr=1.5
    Perthshire. SCOTLAND .
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