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?

It's the sort of thing my DH would do so I feel your pain.

I think the bark will deplete your soil of something important (nitrogen?) as it decomposes, so it can't be dug into beds or used underneath the soil/compost layer; it can only be used as a top dressing ie. mulch.

meh, it's a mistake I'd make.
I'd sell the bark chips on. Otherwise I'd try to get some compost delivered.
I know so many places giving compost away right now (road side bags).

Keep the bark chippings for decorative top dressing and moisture retention.

How deep are your raised beds? If they're not especially deep and receive a fair amount of sun bark chippings can cut down on moisture evaporation somewhat as well as looking attractive.

@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?

Bless him, sometimes I weep for the lack of basic knowledge with some people.

But to answer your question, yes you can use them as a top up, but if you want to grow items, then you'll need the compost.

@phishy
"......strategic incompetence..."

Love it

This sounds like constructive incompetence on your DH's part, to me. So you won't ask him again to help with the gardening!

I know nothing about gardening, but would the bags of bark not be much lighter, and therefore huge clue when you pick one up?

Raised beds take an amazing amount of compost/soil to fill and I've found that, weirdly, they end up somehow half empty over the winter.

I started mine with a huge, vast bag of topsoil that was delivered after much searching online for the best possible offer on price/delivery.

Added bonus: kept my husband happily busy for ages, wheelbarrowing it from the big dump-bag to the raised beds.