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Indiana

I have a fairly unlimited supply of tree service wood chips can i add some fresh ones to the garden in the fall or should i let them compost untill next fall I have heard the eat up all the nitrogen any help appreciated.
Steve

10/27/2003 8:12:03 PM

Ctpumpkin@optonline.net

Age them as long as possible. If you have the space to work some piles for a couple seasons you can do well with this. But be prepared for advantageous roots if you place the piles near trees.

10/27/2003 8:37:07 PM

Key West, FL

Its gonna take forever for those suckers to break down, I don't know if it would be worth it. It wouldn't be for me.

10/27/2003 8:43:50 PM

Montoursville, PA

I would vote against using wood chips in the ground. A very hot compost pile would take at least a year to consume them.
There is so many better compost materials available.

10/27/2003 10:48:40 PM

Ljubljana, Slovenia

In Slovenia we have a famous 50 years old pile of unbroken wood chips. The reason for this is that water can not reach the interior which could bring nutrients for decomposing microorganisms. But if you have a possibility to mix them with compost and stock for a year or two it should be a good additive to raise organics in soil. Jernej

10/28/2003 3:33:06 AM

Itzetown City

Break down and compost wood in the soil is dependent of the soil you get it in. I have heavy clay soil and you can see at the poles how quick the wood is breaking down in that soil.
But i only use the selfmade clips from outcutting of tree and bushes in my own garden in fall to cover the rose beds 2 inch with.
I never would buy that sh*t! It´s not only the long term to break down, often the clips from old pallets with metall from the nails within or from old avenue-trees with all that poisen stuff the trees collecting over the years. I dont like heavy metall in my ears nor in the garden.

10/28/2003 5:23:44 AM

Montoursville, PA

No one has mentioned if you get a load of chips that are green and easy sprouters like locust you will be starting a nursery in a flash.

10/28/2003 10:06:44 AM

Indiana

I have put several loads in all the flower beds and they have worked fine for mulch. The tree guy delivers them for free otherwise he has to haul them about 20 miles away, so i cant beat the price. I wish i could get somone to deliver that much manure!! The 10 yard load i got earlier this summer and have been composting has shrunk to about half its original size i also added a bag of urea to help get them cooking i figured that would help their gonna go in the garden sometime reguardless, i just want to know if i should let them break down all the way or should i put them in now.

Thanks Steve
Thanks Steve

10/28/2003 1:13:13 PM

Garden State Pumpkins

I appled sawdust in massive amounts...you need so much nirtrogen to compensate for the depletion that although the OM added to the soil will be 2 years before it starts returning what it is draining..wood chips would be even longer...unless you have the time and space probably not a good idea..chuck

10/28/2003 8:36:59 PM