Spring brings the need of many people to spread new shredded bark over existing bark to “spruce up” landscape bed areas. We suggest using at least two inches of new shredded bark every year. This will help give you continued assurance to help keep new weeds from sprouting up.  Bark is one of the most “plant friendly” mulches because it helps hold moisture in the soil around your plants. The contrasting color of new bark gives your beds a new personality.  Shredded bark will help your plants stand out in your beds.

Bark that has decomposed by the weather and micro-organisms will help change the texture of the soil, especially if it is mixed in the soil before new bark is spread.  Decomposed bark helps the availability of nutrients for the plants; although nitrogen fertilizer can be quickly used up in the decomposition process; therefore adding nitrogen fertilizer may be needed for those plants in areas that are mulched with wood or shredded bark.

Before shredded bark is spread, we suggest pulling or spraying existing weeds; then by spread Preen or like pre-emergence herbicide on the area to help kill the weed seed in the soil. Some roots, rhizomes and seeds may not be killed (or removed) by spraying, pulling and applying weed seed killers. Always follow directions when using any kind of chemical.