Forum home› The potting shed
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Use of Bark chippings

hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
in The potting shed
Hello for the first time i have put a layer of bark chippings around 3 plants in an outdoor  pot as their pots were being invaded by weeds. My understanding is that the bark chippings will prevent weed growth however will it also lead to the plant soil drying out.  :/

My worry here is that when it rains the rain will not get to the soil because of the layer of bark chippings.
Am i worrying about nothing , will the soil under the chippings get enough water to reach the roots of the plant ??

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't use bark unless it's for woody shrubs/trees, but rain will get through them no problem. 
    What plants are in the pots? If they have a lot of foliage, that can prevent moisture getting through, so you'd need to check them anyway, regardless of what mulch you use  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    its a blue berry and cranberry plant but they arent very bushy /leafy.  I
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I hope the planter's very large  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    Fairygirl said:
    I hope the planter's very large  :)
    Fairygirl said:
    I hope the planter's very large  :)
    why do you say that 
  • TenNTenN Posts: 184
    Ideally a blueberry likes its own pot.
  • steephillsteephill Posts: 2,841
    The bark will not dry out the soil in the pots, in fact it has the opposite effect helping to reduce moisture loss. However you cannot rely on rain alone to keep your pots watered, you will need to water them yourself.
    Most blueberries grow to be large bushes, 2 metres tall and wide, so you would need a large pot using ericaceous compost to support such a big plant.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    hi2u_uk said:
    Fairygirl said:
    I hope the planter's very large  :)
    Fairygirl said:
    I hope the planter's very large  :)
    why do you say that 
    For the reasons @steephill has given. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • hi2u_ukhi2u_uk Posts: 58
    OK well they have separate pots  but all sorts of other things started growing in the pot which is why i put the bark layer in . I dont want a 2metre bush though. I bought 
    https://www.jparkers.co.uk/blueberry-top-hat-dwarf-0001211c
     When i bought the blueberry plant it was basically just a stick  in soil nothing like the picture on the webpage !!
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Better to buy from a reputable fruit grower if you want them to thrive, rather than an outlet like jparker's. 
    It depends when you're buying any kind of deciduous shrub [regardless of what it is] as to how it looks. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Joyce GoldenlilyJoyce Goldenlily Posts: 2,933
    It is always a good idea to find out the eventual size of any thing you are planning to grow in a container. Keeping them cut down to the size you want could mean lack of fruit, flowers etc.
Sign In or Register to comment.