On Mar 13, 1:56�pm, "zzznot" wrote:
I thought I'd spread some decorative bark on
the ground of the flower beds and between
some bushes, where the adobe soil otherwise
gets cracked and bare. �It's supposed to
hold down weeds and retain moisture. �So,
is there any downside to using it? �Or, is
it just good organic matter anyway?

Pine bark nuggets work well. They're typically available in three
sizes, small. medium. and large. I like to use a mix of large and
medium piled about six inches deep. They are heavy enough that the
wind won't blow them around and wood eating insects do not eat pine
bark. The only drawback is if you have poor drainage causing large
puddles, then they may float away... it's best to contain them with
some sort of edging regardless, same as with any mulch.

http://www.thelandscapeshop.com/Hort.../Pine_Bark.htm