Organic Mulch or Decorative Stones – Which is Better for Your Flower Beds?

To give your plants the best chance of surviving and flourishing, it’s a good idea to put some form of protective layer in the beds. As experts when it comes to garden bark in Essex, Cambridgeshire and across East Anglia, we at Madingley Mulch know that two of your main choices are either an organic mulch such as bark, or some decorative stones. Here we look at their respective advantages of the two alternatives.

 

Advantages of Bark

Bark is a natural solution – not only will it retain moisture in summer, allow rain to penetrate the beds in winter, and deter weeds all year round, it will also improve the structure of your soil. It’s also very easy to work with and lightweight compared to some decorative stones, larger stones in particular, so installing it won’t be so difficult.

You don’t have to worry about natural debris, such as leaves and dirt, spoiling the look as to some extent they are already part of the mulch and will blend in. It’s also cheaper than many types of decorative stones – and you won’t need to buy any extras such as an extra base layer of aggregates.

Bark will also help the plant roots cope with temperature extremes, whereas some decorative stones can make the beds much hotter, as their surfaces will absorb more heat.

 

Advantages of Decorative Stones

Despite our name, at Madingley Mulch we also supply many different types of decorative stone in Cambridge and the surrounding area and can vouch for its advantages.

Decorative stones won’t need replenishing as often as a bark mulch (which should ideally be replaced every year). This means stones are an ideal choice for someone who is pressed for time and is after a relatively low-maintenance garden.

There are also plenty of different varieties to pick from when it comes to the size, colour and shape of your stones. The same is also true of mulches, but the differences aren’t so marked; the net result is that a decorative stone layer for your flower beds will look much more striking, and make your garden really stand out.

Decorative stones have some of the same essential properties of a bark-based mulch; for example they will still help prevent weeds from poking their unwanted heads through. It also won’t matter so much if people tread on the stones – you won’t be damaging the soil and there’s less chance of getting the rest of the garden (and house) dirty. And heavier stones are less likely to blow all over the rest of the garden.

They also have very strong utility and can be used in other parts of the garden too, as pathways or driveways.

 

Decorative Stones and Garden Bark Mulches from Madingley Mulch in Cambridge

So, it may be down to personal choice and how much time you have –- although It’s worth noting that the commonest soil type in the East of England is a clay mixture – and the Royal Horticultural Society says that an organic mulch (such as bark) may be a better option because of the improved drainage it offers.

But whichever one you choose, at Madingley Mulch we stock both types of products.

For our range of decorative stone chippings, follow this link – there’s plenty to choose from with a wide range of colours, shapes and sizes. We also stock a range of mulches and composts. These include our exclusive products, Tony’s Tonic and Denise’s Delight.

And, whatever type you opt for, we’d also recommend some kerb edging stones which will keep the stones or mulch where it belongs – in the flower beds.

We realise that a big order – for either stones or mulch – is going to be heavy work, even if you can fit it all in your car. Check out our deliveries page to find out how we can help you get all your materials home safely.

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