What plants grow in bark?
Pairing the right plants with bark mulch can create a great-looking garden. Perennials such as Lavender, Japanese Iris and Dianthus combine well with bark mulch for an attractive, low-maintenance landscape. Consider adding trees such as Ailanthus, Acer campestre and Eucalyptus cinerea to provide structure and shade. Some excellent low maintenance plant options to consider for your decorative bark include succulents, such as Sedum and Sempervivum, as well as ornamental grasses. These plants are known for their resilience and ability to thrive with little water or pruning.
What are tree toppings?
Topping is the drastic removal or cutting back of large branches in mature trees. The tree is pruned much as a hedge is sheared and the main branches are cut to stubs (Figure 1). Topping is also referred to as heading, stubbing or dehorning. Tree topping, sometimes called stubbing, heading, or hat-racking, involves indiscriminately cutting back a tree’s canopy with little to no regard for natural structure or proper pruning techniques.