Understood. It's a common problem -due to the oils/ tannins/ sap and
excess carbon therein- i would guess. Without extra Ca & N the "biota"
can't really start to breakdown the bark. If they can't do it- it's
folloows that it will be hard to wet.
bille
I still also stand by my complaint about the poor water-holding and
rewetting properties of bark compost as I know it.
I hope you get much better results with bark than I have had anyway.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004
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billevans wrote:
Hi Bill
It is possible fir bark is superior to pine for this job, but I must
also enquire if this was an evaluation by an organic nurseryman or a
regualar one who was anyway expecting a nutritionally inert material
needing regular feeding.
The beauty of my compost mixes I find is that they will often go through
a whole season without any topping up of the nutrients, but if I buy a
plant in a bark-based compost I shall certainly have to expect to
supplement its food supply. I guess though in your own mix by
including some compost and vermicompost you may largely avoid this.
I still also stand by my complaint about the poor water-holding and
rewetting properties of bark compost as I know it.
I hope you get much better results with bark than I have had anyway.
Moira
--
Tony & Moira Ryan,
Wainuiomata, North Island, NZ. Pictures of our garden at:-
http://mywebpages.comcast.net/cherie1/Garden/TonyandMoira/index.htm
NEW PICTURES ADDED 4/Feb/2004
