Is pine bark a good soil amendment or mulch?
Absolutely not! Although pine bark is extensively promoted as an inexpensive soil conditioner and/or mulch it is actually the very worst organic material you could use (with the exception of saw dust, which may be worse). You should avoid all forms of pine bark, regardless if it is raw, aged or composted. Pine bark is nearly void of any nutrient content, very slow to decompose, a poor aerator, does not significantly aid in moisture retention and can cause severe nitrogen tie-up in the soil (requiring prodigious amounts of nitrogen to prevent chronic chlorosis in the planted material. See our Common Problems page to view other common problems associated with non-SBS soils.
