Melcourt

Enquiries: +44 (0)1666 502711


	Frequently Asked Questions
	General Q1. Do we have enough bark in the UK to cope with expected demand? Q2. If I am unsure which product I need, how can Melcourt help me? Q3. I've heard of 'Bark Passports'. Do they exist and what are they? Q4. What is the latest situation regarding Methyl Bromide treatment of imported bark? Q5. My landscape schemes are quite small, often for domestic gardens, with the subsequent quantity of material being less than a full lorry load. Can you help? Q6. Recently my contractor had a load of mulch delivered and off-loaded on site that was not to my specification. What should I do about it? Q7. I believe that Melcourt products are expensive. Is this true? Q8. Do mulches, soil ameliorants and composts from other suppliers perform the same as the equivalent Melcourt product? Q9. I always specify Melcourt products, but find that the contractor often submits samples for approval from other suppliers. Why is this ? Soil Ameliorants Q10. Do I always need to use a soil ameliorant? Q11. The soil pH on one of my sites is too high, how can I reduce it? Tree & Shrub Planting Compost Q12. Quite frankly, I used to specify peat-based planting compost and they gave good results. How do the 'peat-free' alternatives compare? Common Areas for Concern Q13. Should I be Concerned if Fungus Growth Appears?
	Q1. Do we have enough bark in the UK to cope with expected demand? A. Yes. Bark for UK landscape products comes mainly from British conifer trees. From the new forest planting over the past 50 years, it is possible to accurately forecast the potential volume availability of bark. It is expected that the volume of UK bark will at least double in the next 10 years. Additional quantities of Pine Bark are being imported from Europe, to meet current market demand for that species.	Top
	Q2. If I am unsure which product I need, how can Melcourt help me? A. There are a number of options available. Telephone Melcourt and discuss your particular problem. The technical staff are able to identify precisely which Melcourt product would your site, budget or client requirements. Clear Technical literature is also available, together with typical product samples and quotations. Alternately, we would be pleased to visit your office or site, to discuss your requirements in detail.	Top
	Q3. I've heard of 'Bark Passports'. Do they exist and what are they? A. Bark Passports were introduced in 1993 as part of the statutory control measures to help prevent the spread of the Spruce Bark Beetle (Dendroctonus micans) from the existing infested area into the uninfected area. All raw bark being transported from the affected area either to a producing plant, or to an end user, has to be identified with a Bark Passport. This is so that a tracability system is in place to check that the Act is adhered to and any new infection can be traced back to the source.	Top
	Q4. What is the latest situation regarding Methyl Bromide treatment of imported bark? A. Methyl bromide treatment is no longer a permitted form of bark fumigation	Top
	Q5. My landscape schemes are quite small, often for domestic gardens, with the subsequent quantity of material being less than a full lorry load. Can you help? A. Melcourt have recognised the need for users who require relatively small quantities of less than 20m�. We have set up a national network of 'Master Stockists' to service this particular requirement. Master stockists have the most popular grades of mulch ex stock, together with other Melcourt products. Next time you have a requirement, please contact your nearest approved Master Stockist. Click here to find your nearest Master Stockist	Top
	Q6. Recently my contractor had a load of mulch delivered and off-loaded on site that was not to my specification. What should I do about it? A. The load should have been visually inspected before it was off-loaded, and if not to specification, rejected. Now that the load has been tipped, do not allow the contractor to spread the material. Get the contractor to contact the supplier and either arrange for it to be removed or negotiate a price reduction, which will be passed on in full, to the client. It might be worthwhile to get the supplier to inspect the load, on site.	Top
	Q7. I believe that Melcourt products are expensive. Is this true? A. No. You are not comparing like for like products. When comparing product specification, independent testing, volume measurement, technical back-up and customer support, we guarantee that the Melcourt product is the best buy.	Top
	Q8. Do mulches, soil ameliorants and composts from other suppliers perform the same as the equivalent Melcourt product? A. No, not necessarily. For instance, it is most unlikely that any other supplier would be able to produce products to the same specification. No other suppliers have had their mulches independently fire tested in accordance with British Standard 4790:1987. Melcourt are fully aware of other suppliers products; it is often the fine specification detail that makes the difference. If you contact our Tetbury office, we would be able to point out the differences in specific cases.	Top
	Q9. I always specify Melcourt products, but find that the contractor often submits samples for approval from other suppliers. Why is this ? A. More than likely, the contractor is offering the samples from other suppliers beacuse it gives him a cost saving. We suggest that you : Insist that you are also shown a sample of the Melcourt product specified, so that you can make a visual comparison, between the samples. Follow carefully the issues as set out in Checklist for Landscape Product Sample Approval	Top
	Q10. Do I always need to use a soil ameliorant? A. Not always, but more than likely. Soil ameliorants are used to improve the natural soil characteristics, e.g. organic matter content, nutrient levels. moisture holding capacity etc. There are a number of specialist companies who will analyze soil and advise any amendments required. Melcourt have a good selection of different natural organic products, to suit your exact needs.	Top
	Q11. The soil pH on one of my sites is too high, how can I reduce it? A. It is usually difficult to reduce the pH of the soil, as soil particles have a much higher buffer capacity than most soil ameliorants, and are therefore resistant to change. Clay soils are more highly buffered than sandy soils. However, careful choice of soil ameliorant can ensure that difficult site conditions are not exacerbated. All Melcourt mulches and Melcourt Composted Fine Bark are acidic in nature.	Top
	Q12. Quite frankly, I used to specify peat-based planting compost and they gave good results. How do the 'peat-free' alternatives compare? A. Since the request for 'peat-free' composts, a lot of low quality products were rushed onto the market . Quality and performance were low. In fact, a lot were little more than spent mushroom compost, in a bag. There are now some better products available, which have been "proven" on site to perform as well as peat based products and are nationally available. It is essential that landscape architects write a proper specification, within the tender documents, (see Melcourt Topgrow tree & shrub planting compost). Generally, peat-free composts are up to 50% cheaper than their peat based equivalent, in the landscape industry.	Top
	Q13. Should I be Concerned if Fungus Growth Appears? A. The materials used to manufacture Melcourt mulches and soil improvers are natural, organic and unadulterated with any chemicals. Under some circumstances, typically in the damp, warm months of autumn, they can support the growth of toadstools and other fungi. We have never had any reported instances of fungi known to be harmful to either human, plant or animal, and in over two decades have never received a single notification of any harm caused by the products from such causes Under normal circumstances any fungal growth generally disappears when the weather changes, but if considered necessary, it can be physically removed from the site.	Top


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Melcourt Industries Limited, Boldridge Brake, Long Newnton, Tetbury, Gloucestershire. GL8 8RT Tel: +44(0)1666 502711 Fax: +44(0)1666 504398 Email: Copyright 2009 - Melcourt Industries Ltd.