Question on composting bark scrap.

[OAITW r.2.0]

Just finished restacking next season's wood pile. Cleaning up the area where the logs were dumped, I have about 2 large wheelbarrows of bark that I could shovel up and dump in the puckerbrush, but-

The pile is located next to my raised beds 4@ (4x3x16). I need to turn the soil which has been dormant for a about 5 years. The dirt has settled quite a bit and was thinking of getting some loam to retop.

I am now thinking of digging down a foot and spreading the bark uniformly in the beds.

Question to knowledgeable Duers - is this a smart use of the waste hardwood bark?

[rampartc]

1. how about using it as mulch?

it will break down in a few seasons.

[OAITW r.2.0]

2. That's an option, I guess.

[Major Nikon]

5. It should make for an excellent mulch to use around trees

Bark scraps tend to raise the acidity and improve the health of the soil as it breaks down, both of which are good for trees.

[KPN]

3. I use mulch in my compost as the brown layer. Works great

in composting — but I chip my own mulch mostly from hedge and tree branch pruning/thinning — not just bark, though I have chipped up bark that fell off firewood as well and included it in compost. And my compost has always been really good nutrient and grow-wise.

I do know that most mulch is acidic pH wise. So keep keep that in mind. I’d say try it and see? You can alway add lime if soul pH gets too acidic.

[OAITW r.2.0]

4. Thanks for the feedback.

[spinbaby]

6. Hugelkultur

Look it up. Basically you just build a sort of mound with big stuff like branches and bark at the bottom, then smaller organic stuff, then soil. Then you plant on it for years as it slowly breaks down.

[OAITW r.2.0]

7. Thanks!