Is bark mulch suitable for container gardening

Bark mulch can serve container gardens well, though its behaviour differs slightly from what you see in open beds. A two-centimetre cap on pots slows evaporation in hot spells, so compost stays evenly moist and roots avoid the stress of repeated wet-dry swings. The loose layer also stops perlite and fine compost particles splashing out when watering cans shower from above, keeping patios cleaner. On winter nights the mulch traps a sliver of warmth, shielding rootballs from sudden frost that might otherwise split terracotta.

Select fine to medium chips; coarse bark leaves hollows that trap moss or harbour slugs. Scatter a pellet fertiliser first, because initial decay can borrow nitrogen. Where pots sit beneath eaves, fluff the layer fortnightly with fingers to stop it sealing into a crust and let showers soak through. Keep bark clear of woody stems in tall tubs; damp may invite collar rot on bay or citrus. In weevil hotspots, lift the mulch late summer, drench compost with nematodes, then replace it. When colour fades, fork spent chips into garden borders and top pots with fresh. AHS LTD supplies screened bark that settles neatly and stays airy, giving balcony containers a woodland floor beneath their blooms.