Lying Bark in Borders

Hi

I'm new to this site, and to gardening and would like some help.

We have quite a large garden and although it's tidy enough it's very bare, we have lots of border space which we were planning on putting down some just to tidy them up and then setting some potted containers on top of but really I'm not even sure of the preparation needed before lying the bark. The borders are full of weeds that just won't die !! Nothing seems to get rid of them. It is just a case of putting down some weed killer before lying the bark ?

Thanks in advance

JJ

 

I'm planning to do the same thing in my front garden next year. My understanding is to get the weeds to a minimum, level the borders and then lay a quality weed control fabric. The fabric is held down with pegs and you cut holes in it to allow new or existing plants to poke through. It's then just a matter or spreading your bark on top.

The fabric allows maximum flow of air,water and nutrients to the soil whilst blocking sunlight and weeds.

I've only just started gardening too but I hope this helps. Also, not having layed any fabric before, I can't really recommend a good manufacturer but I was planning on using one from Plantex. I think they do different grades of fabric so i'd recommend going the best for your budget.

Hope this helps.

:D

 

I would go with your suggestion Anthony if you really want to keep maintanance to the minimum. Cover should be with a semi-permeable membrane, sold off a roll in most garden centres - allows water through, but not the weeds.

I had to resort to that with my front garden, having lost the battle with field bindweed - and works well.

[ 13. October 2005, 08:02 PM: Message edited by: Fran ]

 

Laying ground cover matting is definately the way to go if you are starting with empty beds, it's a bit fiddly to lay around estabised plants (especially thorny ones!) but often worth the effort. We use 'phormisol' which we buy (by the metre, off wide rolls) from www.lbsgardendirect.co.uk

[ 17. October 2005, 11:01 PM: Message edited by: Tortuosa ]