I need to lay a membrane and bark chippings in a communal area By my house. Is it just a case of laying the membrane, pegging down then covering with 5cm or so of bark?
Thanks!
I'd put 3" of bark chipping and no membrane, when air shattered weeds grow on top of the membrane it's much harder to get the roots out .if you want to plant anything in the future it's far easier without the membrane.
Unless you're trying to suppress a big perennial weed problem forget the membrane as above. All that happens is the local wildlife scatter the layer of mulch leaving you looking at patches of membrane - just using a deeper layer of mulch will be as effective and last longer.
Lay cardboard / newspapers then mulch. The cardboard will supress weeds but it will rot down after a few months