Barkdust Frequently Asked Questions

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS?

How do I figure out how much bark I need?
The easiest way to figure out how much bark you need on your property is by measuring the
square footage of the area you want to cover. You can use a tape measure or a measuring wheel, but
I prefer to walk it off, creating squares and rectangles on the ground. This is how to do it- Create a
square or retangle out of one of your barkdust areas. Walk 2 sides of a square or a long side
and short side of a rectangle, taking normal steps, counting your steps for each side.You can estimate
that one human step is approximately3 feet, so multiply the number steps on each side by 3 and then
multiply the totals of both sides together to get the square footage. EXAMPLE-I have a rectangle in my
yard that is approximately 3 steps by 4 steps. I multiply 3'x3steps =9' and 3'x4steps =12'. Then I
multiply the totals of both sides 9'x12'=108 square feet. I do this for each area, and then add all the
square footages together to get the total square footage I need to bark Once you have the sq. ft. you
can use our conversion chart to figure out how much bark you need to order or One unit of barkdust,
mulch, or compost covers 1200 square feet, 2 inches deep. That is if you spread the unit on
a level surface. Practicallyspeaking, it will cover 1,000 to 1,100 square feet, 2 inches deep
or 2,000 to 2,200 square feet, 1 inch deep.

What different kinds of barkdust do you have?
Bark Blowers Inc. has a variety of different types of barkdust to choose from. Medium Fresh Fir,
Fine Fresh Fir, Medium Dark Fir, Medium Fresh Hemlock, Medium Dark Hemlock, Fir Nuggets or
Fir Bark Rock are some of the main types of barkdust. We also carry other landscape supply items. Please
see the product list and descriptions for a complete listing.

What kind of bark is know as the sliver-less barkdust?
Although there is really not any barkdust that is truly sliver-less, bark that comes
from the Hemlock tree ( this is not the same hemlock that Socrates drank) has a lot less slivers
than bark from the Fir tree. Hemlock is great for families with children or pets that may be playing or
working in the barkdust area. Because of the way the Hemlock bark comes off the log, it can have
a higher percentage of white wood in the bark.

Do you deliver and dump bark and other landscape materials as well as blow barkdust?
Yes, Bark Blowers Inc. will deliver and dump quantities of bark as small as 1 yard. See
our delivery page for more information.

How many yards are in a unit?
Most all the companies call a unit 7.5 yards but it is really 7.407 yards in a unit or 200 cubic feet.

How much does one unit/one yard cover?
One unit of barkdust, mulch, or compost covers 1200 square feet, 2 inches deep. That is if you
spread the unit on a level surface. Practically speaking, it will cover 1,000 to 1,100 square feet,
2 inches deep or 2,000 to 2,200 square feet, 1 inch deep.
See our conversion chart.

How thick do you recommend the bark be blown on?
We always blow barkdust at a 2" depth unless we are told otherwise. 2" is needed to
get a good coverage for weed control and to minimise water evaporation (A 3"layer of barkdust can
reduce water evaporation up to 50%) unless you are just touching up existing bark. The bark
can be applied at a thicker depth but if you go over 4", the bark may start taking air away
from your plants.

How much can your trucks hold?
Our delivery and blowing trucks can hold from 1 to 6 units of barkdust , compost or mulch or
1 to 12 yards of rock. Some of our delivery trucks have dividers so we can delivery two different products.

How far does your blower hose reach?
Our crews normally carry 150ft of hose at all times. If the area where you need bark is
further away from where the truck will be parked, for a small extra charge, we can add another
100ft of hose. In the right situation we have gone 500 feet from the truck.

Do you have playground chips?
Yes, Our cedar chips are of superior quality and are used by many of the Kinder Cares in
the Portland area. We only carry cedar chips that do not have pieces larger than 1 inch to
prevent injury.

Do you carry any compost or top-soil?
Although Bark Blowers Inc. does not carry any yard debris compost, we do have some
comparable items. Our Lady Island Compost is our fir and hemlock bark composted together and
aged. It is very dark and fine. We also have a 3-way Brahma Soil Mix that we can deliver but
not blow. It consists of 1/3 mushroom compost, sandy loam, and our Lady Island Compost. Your
plants will love it! See our products page for more information.

Which type of bark is better for weed control?
While all our barkdust will keep weeds from growing in your yard, we recommend that you
go with a fresh product. The fresh product is more red in color and will last the longest.

Is your bark treated?
Absolutely not, our barkdust is completely organic. It comes strait from the tree into your
garden.

Will the bark attract flees or ant to my yard?
No, the idea that barkdust attracts flees is a myth.

What do I need to do to prepare my yard?
The most important step before applying barkdust is to pull any weeds that have already
began to grow in your yard. It is not necessary to do more than that. Some people spray weed
repellent or lay down landscapers cloth.