I am covering bit at the front with ground cover, the black breathable stuff.
My pots and tubs will sit on it and there are two bush kind of tree things already there (you can tell how much I know about gardening can't you )

I like the idea of putting bark down instead of gravel simply because it is easier but is there any reason I should put gravel ?

I don't want to go and lay it all with bark and then find out I should have used stones instead.

Help