Sent DH out for compost..

[HotnSunnyRainbowRoses]

He’s come back with three huge bags of bark chips

Can I still use them in place of compost/topsoil (it was to fill a raised bed...) does anyone know?

I don't think you can, but might be best to post on the gardening forum on here. They are a very knowledgable bunch.

I'd send him back to exchange them for compost/topsoil. Bark chips won't do the job of either!

If it's just to fill the bed rather than planting into, then they would be ok i think but be prepared for them to break down significantly over the months.
Filling a raised bed with compost would be mega bucks...

I wouldnt have thought so, not the whole thing if you want to grow stuff in it. Could you syphon the soil from elsewhere in the garden to fill the raised bed, then dress all the slightly depleted borders with the bark?

Or if you're on Facebook see if anyone wants to swap?

No, it can't be used in place of soil! Go out and get some compost, as clearly your DH is too incompetent to do it!

I don't think so, if you need compost, you need compost.

Send him back to exchange it.

Get the receipt out and DH returns them with a handwritten note from you saying compost and what type of compost!!!

He's a total banana isn't he? He should fix his error!

Unless you want to keep the bark chip and still buy more compost. But they aren't the same thing at all!

Sent dh out for watercress once to add to homemade fish cakes..
He came back with salad cress.
Apparently not his fault he didn't know there was more than 1 type of cress.

If your raised bed is completely empty, then three bags of bark chip won't go far and will save you lots of money!
Bark chip and soil in, then a few layers of topsoil and compost for actually planting in.

Sent DH out for compost..

Nah, he'll take too long to mulch down.

Better pop out and get your own, make sure you get what you need.

Monty Don had a piece on this on Friday night for keeping weeds down

@Ikeptgoing

Get the receipt out and DH returns them with a handwritten note from you saying compost and what type of compost!!!

He's a total banana isn't he? He should fix his error!

Ooo yes! Give him a note from wifey coz titter titter he's just a man. What fucking japes.

He needs to go back and exchange it. Its not rocket science.

Exchanging isn’t really an option tbh.

We don’t drive, we actually have a few beds to fill and are going to be buying massive bulk bags but as DH was going Morrisons this morning I thought I would ask him to pick up a few bags of compost to make a small start.

Exchanging would mean calling it out a taxi and lugging them back, it’s not worth it really.

I’ve put the bloody things down now in the smallest bed anyway.
They look quite nice but if they aren’t suitable to grow stuff in I’m going to have to dump a load of compost over the top 😤

If you want, you can use them on top of the compost you need as a decorative top and help weeding and moisture retention.

Don't dump the compost on top-its the other way around. You use them as a layer on top of soil or compost to retain moisture and suppress weeds. Bark chips are a brilliant mulch and will eventually (2-3 years) break down into a lovely compost. I use loads of bark chips on my allotment they're especially good around perennials like fruit, roses etc but you can mulch them round anything.

You can use it to fill deep pots from the bottom and as a top layer to mulch, but you still need compost OP. What a plonker

You can't grow in bark chips alone, it's too acidic etc. But you could put a thick layer on top of your beds or round your garden, around but not on any plants, as a marvellous weed suppressant

Keep them to add as a mulch layer on top of the soil when you get that in

Seriously, is he thick? Or is it strategic incompetence?

WTH, who would buy bark in place of compost?

Sorry OP but you have to dig the compost into the soil don't put bark on first! Bark is great for keeping weeds at bay but it's not a compost alternative . Scrape it off dig the compost in and then put it overtop.

Re your post :
They look quite nice but if they aren’t suitable to grow stuff in I’m going to have to dump a load of compost over the top 😤

Sorry OP but you have to dig the compost into the soil don't put bark on first! Bark is great for keeping weeds at bay but it's not a compost alternative . Scrape it off dig the compost in and then put it overtop
😡😡😡😡
Gah! Fine.
Scrape it I will.

Can your DH actually read?

Can your DH actually read?
Allegedly.
Morrisons has the compost and bark bags arranged in the same display together so I think he’s just assumed it’s all compost and thrown some bags in the trolley without actually bothering to read the bag.