Barkdust
Encyclopedia
In agriculture
, gardening
, and landscaping
, barkdust (also bark dust, bark chips, bark mulch, or beauty bark) is a form of mulch
produced out of chipped or shredded tree
bark
. Coarser forms of barkdust may be known as bark nuggets. Trees typically used in the production of barkdust include the Douglas fir and the Western hemlock
.
are the most common sources of barkdust, with cedar
bark also being used. Barkdust may be a byproduct of lumber
production, of yard debris recycling processes, or it may be produced in its own right. Barkdust is typically categorized by the source plant, as well as by the coarseness of the resulting material. Fine barkdusts are used as mulch
, with coarser forms being used for weed control, as a playground
surface, or for decorative purposes.
According to voluntary guidelines published by the Mulch and Soil Council, a trade group of mulch and soil producers, a material with "bark" in the name should consist of "the corky exterior covering of trees, with a maximum wood content (interior xylem
of 15%)". Products with greater than 15% wood content may be labelled as "wood mulch", but should not be called "bark", according to the group's guidelines.
Fresh fir bark is reddish-brown in color. The bark from cedar or hemlock is more tan in color, as the processes which produce these types of barkdust may leave a greater percentage of wood (as opposed to bark) in the resulting material. Shredded fir bark is known for lots of slivers, those who handle it with bare hands or walk on it with bare feet are likely to get splinter
s. Bark produced from hemlock or cedar is far less likely to produce splinters, and is commonly used as a covering for children's play areas.
, barkdust is used in gardening and landscaping for its properties in affecting soil pH
, in regulating the temperature of the underlying soil,
and preventing water loss and erosion.
Barkdust increases soil acidity, and the decomposition of barkdust consumes nitrogen
, especially when fine bark mulch is mixed in with soil; coarser barkdust laid on top of soil will extract nitrogen at a much slower rate. Barkdust is also effective at absorbing water and preventing water loss due to evaporation.
Barkdust is commonly used in landscaping around trees or shrubs. It is especially common in the Pacific Northwest
where the tree species used to produce it are native. Barkdust is valued for its effectiveness at suppressing weed
s; many plants considere to be weeds do not tolerate the soil conditions brought upon by barkdust. On the other hand, the same is true for many flowering plants such as dahlia
s.
In addition, many consider barkdust to be visually appealing.
As barkdust is less dense than other types of soil or mulch, and doesn't compress a great deal, it is often considerably softer than bare earth. As a result, it also finds applications as a playground
surface. For playground applications, hemlock or cedar bark is most commonly used, as fir bark frequently produces splinter
s when handled by or trod upon with bare skin.
Smaller quantities of barkdust, typically 2–3 cubic feet, are sold prepackaged in home improvement
and gardening
retailers.
For landscaping applications, a layer of 2"–3" (5 cm–7.5 cm) is generally recommended. For use in playgrounds, a 12" (30cm) layer is often recommended.
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
, and landscaping
Landscaping
Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including:# living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly referred to as gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal of creating a beautiful environment within the landscape.#...
, barkdust (also bark dust, bark chips, bark mulch, or beauty bark) is a form of mulch
Mulch
In agriculture and gardening, is a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growth and seed germination. Mulching in gardens and landscaping mimics the leaf cover that is found on forest floors....
produced out of chipped or shredded tree
Tree
A tree is a perennial woody plant. It is most often defined as a woody plant that has many secondary branches supported clear of the ground on a single main stem or trunk with clear apical dominance. A minimum height specification at maturity is cited by some authors, varying from 3 m to...
bark
Bark
Bark is the outermost layers of stems and roots of woody plants. Plants with bark include trees, woody vines and shrubs. Bark refers to all the tissues outside of the vascular cambium and is a nontechnical term. It overlays the wood and consists of the inner bark and the outer bark. The inner...
. Coarser forms of barkdust may be known as bark nuggets. Trees typically used in the production of barkdust include the Douglas fir and the Western hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
.
Production and types of barkdust
Barkdust is commonly produced from several tree species. The Douglas fir and the Western hemlockWestern Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
are the most common sources of barkdust, with cedar
Cedar wood
Cedar wood comes from several different trees that grow in different parts of the world, and may have different uses.* California incense-cedar, from Calocedrus decurrens, is the primary type of wood used for making pencils...
bark also being used. Barkdust may be a byproduct of lumber
Lumber
Lumber or timber is wood in any of its stages from felling through readiness for use as structural material for construction, or wood pulp for paper production....
production, of yard debris recycling processes, or it may be produced in its own right. Barkdust is typically categorized by the source plant, as well as by the coarseness of the resulting material. Fine barkdusts are used as mulch
Mulch
In agriculture and gardening, is a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growth and seed germination. Mulching in gardens and landscaping mimics the leaf cover that is found on forest floors....
, with coarser forms being used for weed control, as a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
surface, or for decorative purposes.
According to voluntary guidelines published by the Mulch and Soil Council, a trade group of mulch and soil producers, a material with "bark" in the name should consist of "the corky exterior covering of trees, with a maximum wood content (interior xylem
Xylem
Xylem is one of the two types of transport tissue in vascular plants. . The word xylem is derived from the Classical Greek word ξυλον , meaning "wood"; the best-known xylem tissue is wood, though it is found throughout the plant...
of 15%)". Products with greater than 15% wood content may be labelled as "wood mulch", but should not be called "bark", according to the group's guidelines.
Fresh fir bark is reddish-brown in color. The bark from cedar or hemlock is more tan in color, as the processes which produce these types of barkdust may leave a greater percentage of wood (as opposed to bark) in the resulting material. Shredded fir bark is known for lots of slivers, those who handle it with bare hands or walk on it with bare feet are likely to get splinter
Splinter
Splinter may refer to:* A sharp fragment of material, usually wood, metal, or fibreglass-Music:* Splinter * Splinter * Splinter...
s. Bark produced from hemlock or cedar is far less likely to produce splinters, and is commonly used as a covering for children's play areas.
Properties and uses
Like many other types of mulchMulch
In agriculture and gardening, is a protective cover placed over the soil to retain moisture, reduce erosion, provide nutrients, and suppress weed growth and seed germination. Mulching in gardens and landscaping mimics the leaf cover that is found on forest floors....
, barkdust is used in gardening and landscaping for its properties in affecting soil pH
PH
In chemistry, pH is a measure of the acidity or basicity of an aqueous solution. Pure water is said to be neutral, with a pH close to 7.0 at . Solutions with a pH less than 7 are said to be acidic and solutions with a pH greater than 7 are basic or alkaline...
, in regulating the temperature of the underlying soil,
and preventing water loss and erosion.
Barkdust increases soil acidity, and the decomposition of barkdust consumes nitrogen
Nitrogen
Nitrogen is a chemical element that has the symbol N, atomic number of 7 and atomic mass 14.00674 u. Elemental nitrogen is a colorless, odorless, tasteless, and mostly inert diatomic gas at standard conditions, constituting 78.08% by volume of Earth's atmosphere...
, especially when fine bark mulch is mixed in with soil; coarser barkdust laid on top of soil will extract nitrogen at a much slower rate. Barkdust is also effective at absorbing water and preventing water loss due to evaporation.
Barkdust is commonly used in landscaping around trees or shrubs. It is especially common in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
where the tree species used to produce it are native. Barkdust is valued for its effectiveness at suppressing weed
Weed
A weed in a general sense is a plant that is considered by the user of the term to be a nuisance, and normally applied to unwanted plants in human-controlled settings, especially farm fields and gardens, but also lawns, parks, woods, and other areas. More specifically, the term is often used to...
s; many plants considere to be weeds do not tolerate the soil conditions brought upon by barkdust. On the other hand, the same is true for many flowering plants such as dahlia
Dahlia
Dahlia is a genus of bushy, tuberous, perennial plants native to Mexico, Central America, and Colombia. There are at least 36 species of dahlia, some like D. imperialis up to 10 metres tall. Dahlia hybrids are commonly grown as garden plants...
s.
In addition, many consider barkdust to be visually appealing.
As barkdust is less dense than other types of soil or mulch, and doesn't compress a great deal, it is often considerably softer than bare earth. As a result, it also finds applications as a playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
surface. For playground applications, hemlock or cedar bark is most commonly used, as fir bark frequently produces splinter
Splinter
Splinter may refer to:* A sharp fragment of material, usually wood, metal, or fibreglass-Music:* Splinter * Splinter * Splinter...
s when handled by or trod upon with bare skin.
Commerce in barkdust
Barkdust is typically sold by the unit, with one unit of barkdust being equal to 200 cubic feet (7.41 cubic yards, or 5.66 m3); such large quantities of barkdust are typically delivered by truck to a jobsite. Barkdust is often spread with a bark blower, a machine consisting of a supply of barkdust, a blower, and a long flexible tube which "sprays" the barkdust over the intended area. Use of a bark blower often results in a more consistent application of barkdust than spreading it by hand, as well as being much faster.Smaller quantities of barkdust, typically 2–3 cubic feet, are sold prepackaged in home improvement
Home improvement
Home improvement, home renovation or remodeling is the process of renovating or making additions to one's home.-Types of home improvement:...
and gardening
Gardening
Gardening is the practice of growing and cultivating plants. Ornamental plants are normally grown for their flowers, foliage, or overall appearance; useful plants are grown for consumption , for their dyes, or for medicinal or cosmetic use...
retailers.
For landscaping applications, a layer of 2"–3" (5 cm–7.5 cm) is generally recommended. For use in playgrounds, a 12" (30cm) layer is often recommended.