Mulch and compost

[instantfamily]

Hi,

all our flowerbeds are covered in bark. I started a compost heap over a year ago and now have what I think I could apply to the flowerbeds to enrich the soil. But do I have to remove all the bark in order to do this? Don't I have to work the compost into the soil?

Also, I found a deep layer of light brown, very compact decomposing matter when I turned over the compost the other day - could this be grass? It has not changed at all in the year that we have been here. Should I remove it?

Ideally it would be best to remove the bark, spread the compost on your soil and then replace the bark. No need to work the compost in, the worms will do that, but the bark will help suppress any weeds that will spring up from your home made compost (they always do from mine).

As to the light brown stuff in your compost - very likely to be grass, especially if you put grass cuttings in last summer. I just put anything that hasn't broken down back onto the heap, but break it up as much as poss first.

thank you so much. Have my work cut out for me then.