The 5 Best Ways to Get Rid of Garden Bark

If you’ve got a garden, chances are you’ll have some amounts of bark lying around somewhere. Maybe it’s whole logs, maybe it’s chunky bits – whatever your garden bark situation might be, you probably don’t want it there for too long. Even if you plan on keeping the bark in your garden, there may come a time when it needs to be removed and stored elsewhere. Perhaps you need to dig up plants to replant them elsewhere in the garden, or perhaps your storage space is running low and you need to make some room. Whether it’s a large amount of bark or just a few stray pieces, getting rid of it can be challenging. However, we have five great ways that will help you do just that!

Why is it so hard to get rid of garden bark?

Most people try to get rid of bark because they don’t know what else to do with it. There are many different types of bark, and some are more useful than others, but all types of bark are biodegradable. This means that as long as you get it into the right conditions, it will break down. That’s the issue though, as most people have little to no idea how to get bark into the right conditions for it to rot away. Some bark can rot away in as little as six months, but others can take as long as five years! Once you’ve found the perfect place for your bark, you’ll want to keep it there until it’s completely rotted away. If you remove it before it’s ready, it’ll just sit there and rot where you put it, so that’s why it can be so hard to get rid of! Garden bark

Tipping and Rotating

Tipping and rotating your bark is a great option if you don’t have much of it, or you want to get rid of it while keeping it in your garden. Garden bark can come in whole logs, as chunky pieces with bark on them, or in long strips with bark on the ends. Whichever type you have, tipping and rotating them will help them to break down faster. This works a lot like composting; you’ll have the bark in a pile, with the pieces facing out. Each time you walk past, you’ll want to tip the pile over so that the bark is facing the ground and all of the other pieces are on top, ready to break down faster.

Burn it

Burning garden bark is an option if you have a large amount, and if you live in an area where burning is allowed. While not all bark can be burned, it’s often worth trying, as it’s a quick and easy way of getting rid of larger amounts of bark. Burning bark is a great way to get rid of it while also adding some needed nutrients to your soil. Not only will the bark itself help to add nutrients and minerals, but as it burns it will release carbon, which is great for your soil.

Composting

Composting is a great way to get rid of garden bark if you have a large amount of it, or if it’s in really bad condition. Composting can be a little more complicated than tipping and rotating, and can require more space. You’ll need a special composting bin, or to create your own composting area in your garden. However, composting can be a cheap and easy way of getting rid of huge amounts of bark, as well as a good way to fertilize your soil for your plants.

Dos and Don’ts of Rotting Bark

While it’s best to let your bark rot naturally, there are some things you can do to speed up the process. For example, you should never put bark directly onto soil, as it will start to break down and will also rob your soil of nutrients. Instead, you should always put it onto bark chips or wood shavings, or even a layer of straw. You can also help to speed up the process by turning the pile or bin regularly. You should also be careful that you don’t put any woody bark, or bark that’s not completely broken down into your composting bin. That’s because any bark pieces that are still too big will slow down or even completely stop your compost from working. There are a few things that you should stay away from when it comes to rotting bark. You should never put bark that’s been treated with chemicals on your compost, as those chemicals will leach into your soil and harm your plants.

Unexpected Helpers

If you’re struggling with a large amount of bark in your garden, it’s worth remembering that a lot of creatures can and will help you to rot it away! You can attract insects and other creatures to your bark by leaving it out in the open, in a pile or even a bin. Many creatures will happily take advantage of a free food source, and you’ll be helping to break down your bark even faster. You can even use this to your advantage if you’re trying to get rid of pests in your garden. Spiders, especially black widows, will often eat pests in gardens, and often like to keep to themselves. If you leave a pile of bark in your garden, you might find that you’ve inadvertently gotten rid of some pests without even trying!

Conclusion

Getting rid of garden bark can be a tricky task, especially if you’ve got a large amount of it. However, there are many different ways that you can do this, and hopefully one of them will work for you! There are a few things that you should keep in mind when trying to get rid of bark. You should always make sure that it’s in the right conditions for it to rot properly. You should also never put bark directly onto soil, as it will break down too quickly and rob your soil of nutrients. Now that you know how to get rid of garden bark, you won’t have to worry about it taking over your garden or yard ever again!

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