Multi-Purpose Bark Mulch Product
By Ben Parrot - Landscape Gardener & Amateur Geologist
Classification:
Bark decorative material and landscaping aggregate
Scientific name(s):
Mixed species
Other Name(s):
Landscape bark, landscaping bark chips, mulch bark chips, garden bark, bark landscape, westland landscape bark, garden bark asda
Overview
Welcome to the only encyclopaedia for decorative aggregates and landscaping materials. Landscaping bark, also known as landscape bark, is an economical and compostable decorative mulch product that can last up to eight years. Products of this name can vary by supplier, but in general landscape, bark is a multi-purpose bark mulch made from forestry wood chip. Brands with FSC certification for sustainable forestry are widely available. The bark is usually obtained from various types of coniferous trees, and as such, is also slightly acidic. This aggregate is best suited for landscaping projects where economy and all-round performance are the key factors.
Landscaping bark is generally is mid to dark brown, owing to its origins, and made up of pieces of varying sizes, including chipped strips of bark, a small amount of white wood and sometimes pine needles. This creates creates a beautiful contrast against the plants and shrubs in your garden, highlighting greenery and giving your beds and borders a pleasing and natural look. It is worth bearing in mind that, since it's a natural product, there may be slight variations in colour, shape and particle sizes.
This encyclopaedia entry aims to provide a thorough overview of landscaping bark, a compostable decorative aggregate and landscaping material. It details the type of product's general specifications, accompanied by photographs, and outlines its benefits, applications, and incompatibilities as a garden material. Additionally, this entry serves as a gateway to a wealth of DIY resources, with a list of comparable alternatives, articles offering design inspiration and fundamental principles, and a collection of straightforward, step-by-step instructions for constructing your own garden features.
Important note: As this is a general page about landscape bark, it is essential to note that variability factors can exist, not just between brands but also between products from the same supplier. If a product's appearance or any other aspect is important to you, we advise requesting a sample prior to ordering.
Landscaping Bark Specifications
material | colour | shape | sizes | fall safety | price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wood | 10 - 60mm |
white wood | Dust & Fines | Certification | degradability | ph | diy friendly |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
< 25% | Minimal | 3-8 years | Acidic |
Material
Mixed conifer and spruce
Colour
Dark brown to light brown
Shape
Shredded
Size Range
10-60mm (0.4-2.4")
Fall Safety
Generally not for play surfaces
Price
Economical
White Wood Content
Up to 25%
Dust and Fines Content
Minimal
Fire Safety
Yes
Degradability
Compostable over 3-5 years
pH
Acidic
DIY-Friendly
Yes
Benefits
Decorative aggregates like landscaping bark offer numerous benefits in garden and landscape design. They provide an aesthetically pleasing ground cover, enhance soil moisture retention, suppress weeds and contribute to soil health through decomposition. Their use can significantly reduce garden maintenance while promoting a more natural and cohesive outdoor space.
Specifically, landscaping bark is favoured for its natural, rustic look and its ability to insulate plant roots from temperature extremes. It's an effective means of retaining soil moisture, reducing water evaporation, and suppressing weed growth, all while adding organic matter to the soil as it decomposes. However, the acidic nature of landscaping bark may not be suitable for all plants. For gardens with alkaline-loving plants, the use of bark as mulch may lead to soil acidification, which may require balancing with alkaline materials. It may have fire resistant qualities; see certifications.
Certifications
This section lists the types of certifications that may be available for this type of product and what they are for. However, this is a guide about the generic type of product, landscaping bark. There may be many brands sold under this product category, but that does not guarantee their individual compliance, and it may not always be necessary depending on individual preference.
This guide equips you with an understanding of certifications to consider, depending on their relevance to your specific use case, or whether they are deemed essential for your individual project outcomes. We add advisory for particular use cases, where we consider the certification to be critical for that type of application or situation. Any products listed on our site will always show their compliance, where it is applicable.
Certification | TYpe | applications | recommended |
|---|---|---|---|
BS EN 1177 | Fall Safety | Children's play Equipment | Yes |
BS EN 4790 | 1987 Fire Tested | Fire prone areas | Yes |
Sustainable Forestry | N/A | N/A |
Applications
Landscaping bark products are versatile, commonly used in flower beds and borders, around trees and shrubs, for the benefits of mulching and for the aesthetics. It's also used in pathways and as a top dressing for garden beds to create a tidy, uniform appearance.
In the following section, we list many of the common uses for bark landscaping. Wherever there is a hyperlink beside an item, an article from Outdoor Aggregates about the topic is available.
Inspiration and Informational Articles
DIY-Friendly How-To Guides
Other Applications
Some other excellent applications for landscape bark include:
Unsuitable For
The following list represents the kinds of applications that landscaping bark may not be suitable for:
- 1Plantings that like highly alkaline garden soil.
- 2Use around young plants or seedlings which need more Nitrogen, especially if turned-in to the soil.
Fall Safety Comparison
For your information, we provide the critical fall height safety of garden materials. We only endorse certified aggregates for play areas.
Material* | Depth 15cm/6" | Depth 23cm/9" | Depth 30cm/12" |
|---|---|---|---|
Wood chips | 2m/7' | 3m/10' | 3.3m/11' |
Shredded bark mulch | 1.8m/6' | 3m/10' | 3.3m/11' |
Engineered wood fibre | 1.8m/6' | 2m/7' | 3.6m/12' |
Fine sand | 1.5m/5' | 1.5m/5' | 2.7m/9' |
Coarse sand | 1.5m/5' | 1.5m/5' | 1.8m/6' |
Fine gravel | 1.8m/6' | 2m/7' | 3m/10' |
Medium gravel | 1.5m/5' | 1.5m/5' | 1.8m/6' |
Taken from page 5 of 'The Handbook For Playground Safety'.
*For the uncompressed depth of each material.
Similar Alternatives to Landscaping Bark
The following is a list of decorative aggregates which are alternatives to landscaping bark. They may offer you a more suitable variation on the primary colour, a more economical option, or a close substitute for cases where the base material may be unsuitable for the project you are creating, e.g. landscaping bark for a play area, where play chips may be safer. The price averages are based on the cost of a standard bulk bag, approximately 1㎥.
Name | Colours | Material | Size | Shape | Availability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
brown to red | Bark | 10-60mm (0.4-2.4") | irregular | UK, USA, EU | ||
brown to red | Bark | 20-60mm (0.8-2.4") | irregular | UK, USA, EU | ||
brown | Straw | 10-60mm (0.4-2.4") | mulched | UK, EU | ||
white or red | 5-40mm (0.2-1.6") | chips | UK, USA, EU | |||
white or red | 10-40mm (0.4-1.6") | chips | UK, USA, EU | |||
white or red | Wood | 10-40mm (0.4-1.6") | chips | UK, USA, EU | ||
brown | Cocoa | 5-40mm (0.2-1.6") | shells | UK, USA, EU |
Under £80
£80-£120
£120-£150
£150-£200
£200-£300
£300+
Maintenance
Landscaping bark is generally low-maintenance, especially when a heavy duty weed membrane is installed underneath to suppress weeds, with most work limited to raking and the occasional removal of debris. It is recommended to occasionally hose or power wash the product in order to prevent the buildup of dust and grime.
Play bark generally settles lower over time, up to 10%, so infrequent replenishment of the bark chippings may be desirable to maintain depth and coverage.
Purchasing Tips
When purchasing landscaping bark, consider product safety certification and future replenishments when calculating the type and quantity optimal for your project. If it is a priority, request a copy of the product's compliance certificate before purchasing landscaping bark. Also, where necessary, it is cost-effective to request a sample to assess the quality against your design requirements.
Our bark & wood chip calculator will give you a quick and unbiased estimate for your project needs just by taking a few measurements of the space. It is one of the best and easiest ways to order the right amount and helps avoid shortfalls or over-spending. Purchasing bark mulch in bulk, either with a landscaping bark bulk bag or ordering in loose loads, can offer better value than purchasing in smaller quantities like landscape bark 100l bags. Therefore, calculating accurately can save both time and money. It is also important to consider the delivery aspects, including vehicle access to the site. Additionally, you can use our site to check stock availability and factor in VAT and transportation costs if applicable. (Feature coming soon)
FAQs
What is landscaping bark and what are the benefits?
A natural, organic mulch produced from the outer layer of tree bark. It improves soil health, retains moisture, suppresses weeds, and enhances garden aesthetics.
Which bark is best for garden use?
Depending on specific garden needs, pine bark is commonly preferred for its longevity and acidity.
What is landscaping bark used for?
It is used as a decorative ground cover for moisture retention, weed suppression, and soil health enhancement.
How do I choose the right type of bark for my garden?
Consider the specific needs of your plants, desired aesthetics, and the product's sustainability.
How much landscaping mulch do I need for my project?
To work out how much bark you need, use our bark calculator to estimate, based on the coverage area and desired depth, in cubic meters.
How far will landscaping bark 100l cover?
100L will cover akwpproximately 2 square meters at a depth of 5cm (2 inches). Westland landscape bark 100l is a commercial example.
