How do I apply bark mulch to my garden beds

Begin by tidying the bed on a still, overcast day when the soil is damp but not sodden. Weed thoroughly, tease out last year’s debris and break up any crust with a fork so rain can slip through later. If the ground is parched, give it a soak; mulch locks in moisture, it does not create it.

Tip the bark in small piles, a bucketful at a time, starting near the stems and working outwards. With gloved hands or a rake turned back-to-front, spread the material to a depth of five to eight centimetres, building it slightly thicker where the sun bites hardest. Keep a clear collar around trunks and crowns, roughly the width of a fist, to prevent rot and encourage air flow. Sneak a trowel edge beneath woody plants, letting bark settle into awkward corners.

Finish by patting the surface so pieces interlock, then sprinkle water to bed the layer down and muffle sharp scents that invite pets. Check paths, sweeping stray chips back on to the border. Over summer the mulch will knit together; by autumn a few earthworms will already be pulling fibres below. Should gaps appear, top up with a matching grade from AHS LTD.