How do I dispose of old or unused bark mulch

Old bark mulch seldom belongs in the skip; it still holds potential after its colour fades and chips fragment. First, sift it with a garden rake to remove stray stones, then dig the remainder into vegetable beds or around trees. Part-decayed bark behaves like woodland humus, loosening heavy clay and feeding soil life for another year. If you have more than borders can swallow, heap it on the compost pile. Mix with moist grass clippings or kitchen peelings to balance carbon, turn fortnightly, and in six months you will have a dark, friable amendment.

For paths that need a cleaner finish, sweep the spent mulch onto a tarpaulin and spread it beneath hedges where appearance matters less but moisture retention still counts. Municipal green-waste collections also welcome woodchip, provided it is free from plastic and pet waste; check your council’s guidelines before bagging. Avoid burning—bonfires release stored carbon in a puff and annoy neighbours. Where disease is suspected, hot composting above sixty degrees Celsius will neutralise spores; smaller gardens can double-bag the material and take it to a designated facility. AHS LTD advises refreshing surfaces rather than discarding wholesale, ensuring resources circulate instead of clogging landfill. The garden will thank.