United Kingdom 
We have a mixture of spring bulbs planted - minatue daffs, iris and snowdrops - and currently have bark covering the beds. The birds savage the bark looking for grubs to feed their young and we thought to change to pea shingle instead. What would be the deepest layer of shingle that we could put in place that would allow the bulb shoots to work their way thru?
3 Jun, 2010
Answers
I totally agree having 'had' pea shingle, aswell as seeing other peoples 'being used' by everything in creation, small stones and shingle are a magnet to them !
3 Jun, 2010
Not called pee shingle for nothing, is it...
3 Jun, 2010
LOL !!!
3 Jun, 2010
We have bigger gravel than pea shingle, say 12mm as opposed to 5mm and never had any trouble with our cats or the neighbours using it as a toilet.
This is about 10 cms. deep and the bulbs come through it no trouble.
I agree though that ornamental bark is much nicer to look at.
3 Jun, 2010
And better for the soil and bio organisms within it.
3 Jun, 2010
glad the neighbours dont use it as a toilet owdboggy :o))
3 Jun, 2010
Well, they do some strange things!
4 Jun, 2010
Previous question
« Could you please advise me when I need to prune my wisteria , thanks
Next question
Warning on pea shingle - every cat and fox in the neighbourhood will use it as a toilet. Personally, I'd rather feed the birds via the bark chips, even if they do make a mess
3 Jun, 2010