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compost or bark

primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817
in Problem solving

Hi anyoneimage I want to give the beds a good mulching the local supermarket has bark or cheap MPC at the same price  are there any benefits to choosing which ?

Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,617

    The bark will last longer. The mpc will have added feed.

  • CharleyDCharleyD Posts: 440

    I'm sure I read somewhere on this forum that bark takes the nitrogen out of the soil.  Having used both now for my first couple of years I'm siding with compost and/or manure for mulching but mainly because I think it looks much neater than bark.  This is my personal preference.

  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    My order of preference for general mulching of borders would be

    1. homemade garden compost
    2. composted bark
    3. bark
    4. MPC

     

     


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





  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Thanks guys I have a bit of homemade compost so will see how far it goes. Then maybe use whatever I can get at reasonable costimage

  • Tropical SamTropical Sam Posts: 1,488

    Surely MPC will be a weed germination magnet? Bark I find works a treat at mulching. I dig it in every year and add more.

  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Seaweed sounds goodimage must take a carrier bag with me whenever we go for a coffee, might go tomorrow if I'm offered a treatimage

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