From

Location

Message

Date Posted

Garden State Pumpkins

I had a ton of trees wood chipped that are now in piles. A general question is what would be the best way to compost the wood chip. Should I leave them in the piles or spread them out and turn them into the clay as soon as possible. Water them down with some compost agent and wait till spring. Any suggestions?

7/15/2002 6:18:20 AM

Menomonie, WI (mail@gr8pumpkin.net)

Wood Chips are high in Carbon, Mix them with grass clippings or fresh manure which are high in nitrogen. Put them in a huge pile. Turn the pile every couple of weeks. Then add more clippings.If you mix them straight in to the soil it will rob your soil of nitrogen.

7/16/2002 12:09:20 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Thanks Rainydays Can do the lawn clippings although pretty burned out this time of year. Any suggestions on compost additives like stump rot or something to break down the chips a little faster, this chipper was eating trees and spitting out silver dollar size chips. still better then the clay but will be like turning in rocks..thanks again!

7/16/2002 6:24:39 AM

Knopp, Germany

alexsdad, you might want to try http://www.envirolet.com/16ozmicac.html they offer compost accelerator that can be used for your garden. Suppose to be pretty good stuff....owen

7/16/2002 6:35:50 AM

Garden State Pumpkins

Yo Owen..You sure about that...Looks like it for Honey dippers...It does have a line that it's good for the garden compost though...Will have to check it out. Thanks for the help!

7/16/2002 7:11:28 AM

Herndon, VA

Dried Blood is also high in nitrogen, and works pretty well. Silver dollar sized chips will take awhile, regardless of what you mix 'em with. Be sure to keep them moist.

7/23/2002 6:39:35 AM

Montoursville, PA

I have had good results with high carbon piles using the very much less expensive product RID-X. This is in addition to animal dung, grass, other garden waste and what have you.
The key to any pile is turning and a rough 1/3 nitrogen, 1/3 carbon and 1/3 soil. If you don't turn it it simply takes a lot longer to get the compost. RID-X will jump start any pile. PH near 7.0 helps so a little lime tossed in may be in order depending on your PH averages.

10/3/2002 7:38:07 AM