Question

I'm thinking of adding Limestone chippings to my newly created borders, not too worried about the roses, but want a mixture of plants and tress in the other borders, would this be a problem when they die off and then regrow each year or for young plants? Also what about bulbs, would they still grow through it or not, total novis so any advice welcome.  

Answer 1

Probably not a good idea as a top dressing. To keep them looking ok they need to be over 2 inches thick and over weed suppressing membrane. which would stop several kinds of plants from growing. If you were to just throw handfulls directly onto the soil , thinner, they would discolour fast, be dragged into the soil by worms etc and every time you needed to dig or dig out a plant. they would be falling into the hole or you would have to clear them first. Very impractical. I use eucalyptus tree shreddings when i can get them.  

Answer 2

I use bark to top dress