Shredded bark is an attractive idea: it’s recycling, it keeps the weeds down, it lets the water through to the aquifer (ie its good for SUDS – Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems) and it rots down to increase the humus content of the topsoil. But it is acid. This is good if you are growing rhododendrons and other ericaceous plants but it is not good for most herbaceous plants.

Shredded bark can also be used as a path surface, with two additional disadvantages: (1) it looks folksy and not like a ‘proper path’ (2) it has to be replaced when it rots down.

So, as with most things, shredded bark is a great product when its used properly and a big disappointment when its used wrongly.

Download shredded bark photograph