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Technical Information
Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM
    Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM are used to:-

  • Naturally supress weed growth on planted landscape areas.
  • Help to conserve soil moisture, minimising drought stress and plant death, particularly during dry weather.
  • Act as an insulating layer, thus substantially reducing the effects of ground freezing, during frosty weather.
  • Slowly improve the soil's organic content, as it eventually decomposes into the soil.
  • Substantially enhance the visual appearance of new and existing planted areas.
    Product Description

  • A long lasting, versatile, high performance mulch, from our 'deluxe' range.
  • Golden brown in colour
  • Free flowing and easy to handle.
    Typical Uses

  • Suitable for a wide range of professional and domestic landscape applications, including prestigious sites, car parks, fuel filling stations, superstores, business parks, tubs, plant and window boxes.
  • Particularly effective when a high quality, decorative finish is required.
  • Because of the size and weight, Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM are particularly suitable on exposed, sloping and high-rainfall sites.
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    User Benefits

  • Independent testing to British Standard 4790:1987 confirms Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM' fire performance characteristics, when it is used particularly in areas of potential fire risk, i.e. car parks, vehicle fuel filling stations, adjacent to offices and pedestrian walk ways, housing estates etc.
  • Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM have been successfully used for many years on prestigious sites throughout the UK and proved to perform extremely well.
  • Environmentally friendly, processed from natural European material, replacing expensive flower bed hoeing, chemical weeding and eliminating the need for excessive plant watering.
    Product Features

  • Fire tested in accordance with the requirements of British Standard 4790:1987.
  • Easy to lay and install, using simple tools and requiring little subsequent maintenance.
  • Long effective service life, 4 years plus.
  • Suitable on exposed, sloping and high rain-fall sites.
  • Free draining and not adversely affected by frost.
  • Very attractive visual appearance.
  • Pleasing 'forest' aroma, when laid.
  • Good resistance to wind erosion.
  • Hostile living environment for pests.
  • Extremely cost effective.
  • 100% peat free.
  • Manufactured from entirely natural, environmentally friendly renewable British resources.
  • Allows clean access onto mulched area for plant pruning.
    Application Rates

  • Lay Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM evenly onto freshly cultivated moist soil, after planting has been completed.
  • We suggest that the mulch should be laid at 50, 75 or 100mm depths, allowing at least 5% settlement within 30 days.



The following text is recommended to be used by landscape architects and product specifiers, when inviting quotations for this product. The use of this text will not contravene the copyright of this publication.

    Product Specification

  • The product shall consist of matured European Pine Bark with an even nominal particle size distribution of 15-125 mm with minimal dust and fines and less than 5% wood content.
  • The pH to be between 4.5 and 5.5.
  • The product shall be pest, disease and weed free and not have been treated with Methyl Bromide or any additives.
  • The product shall have been tested in accordance with the requirements of BS 4790:1987, for fire resistance.
    Process Specification

  • The natural heat treatment maturing process shall have been sufficient to ensure that excess volatile substances are driven from the product.
  • During the process, temperatures within the product heaps must exceed 50°C for a minimum 14 day period, followed by a further period of stabilisation.

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    Application Rates

  • Lay Melcourt Graded Bark FlakesTM to a finished depth of ........ mm (insert finished depth required) allowing at least 5% for settlement after 30 days.
    Additional Clauses

  • Copies of current British Standard Fire Test Certificates to be provided upon request.
  • Typical product samples to be provided upon request.
  • All product volumes to be calculated using The Bulk Density method, as set out in BS EN 12579:2000 and BS EN 12580:2000.
    Available from
Melcourt Industries Limited
Boldridge Brake, Long Newnton,
Tetbury, Glos GL8 8RT
Tel: +44 (0)1666 502711
Fax: +44 (0)1666 504398
Email:mail@melcourt.co.uk
Website: http://www.melcourt.co.uk

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The following table gives a guide to the area in square metres, covered by one cubic metre, when evenly laid at the given depths:

Mulch depth required 50 mm 75 mm 100 mm
Square metres covered by 1 cubic metre of mulch 20 13.3 10

A suitable allowance for settlement should be made, as stated in 'Application Rates', above.

Product settlement percentages are provided for your guidance only. If the product settles more than the minimum figure stated, it is the customer's responsibility to order sufficient additional material, to give the required finished depth.

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION

Main Constituent Origin Nominal particle size range Wood content Dust & fines pH
Pine Bark European 15 - 125 mm < 5 % Minimal 4.5 - 5.5

Typical Bulk Density Range Quality range Minimum effective depth Settlement factor Durability BS 4790 Fire Tested
200 - 250
kg/m3		 Deluxe 50 mm 5 % 4 years + Yes

All values given in the Technical Specification are typical. However, some variation may occur from time to time. Melcourt Industries Ltd reserves the right to alter the specification without notice, for the purpose of product improvement.