advice on using bark/wood chipping mulch please

[gardenspirit]

I have had my allotment for 6 months now and the trend at our allotment for some years now, is to put bark/wood chipping mulch ( delivered occasionally from the council, arranged by a council allotment holder)on the paths inbetween plots etc. My neighbour mulches his fruit bushes, once or twice a year with it. My plot gets waterlogged in heavy rain turning the entrance to my plot to mud, so I have put a heavy mulch of wood chippings at the entrance and down a central path,making access easier and around the 3 bay compost bin and I too, have mulched my currant bushes. Now a farmer friend tells me 'why was I putting that nasty stuff around my fruit trees?' if he wants to kill anything off he covers it with bark chippings....!! now what am I to do ? as I was the one to arrange the delivery of the stuff from a tree surgeon, and another load is on its way next week. My question is - is this stuff safe to use, mostly its conifer trees, chipped up and is fresh not stored stuff.

[Snadger]

Don't worry Gardenspirit, and welcome to thevine btw!

I took over last year as allotment Association Secretary and instead of relying on the Council to drop a load of woodchippings off now and again I contacted local tree surgeons who I found were keen to supply us with as many woodchippings as we liked for free. They have to pay to have woodchips tipped at a local waste facility so were pleased to accomodate.

We have had umpteen loads delivered (possibly about 30 or 40 tonne) and the plot holders have been glad of them. My paths have a permeable membrane put down (old 25Kg grass seed bags) and then about 3 inches of woodchips added.
Woodchippings make excellent paths and even though I don't use them as a mulch around fruit trees, I see no reason why they shouldn't be used.
They will take a wee bit of nitro from the soil as they decompose but hard and soft fruit trees don't use much nitro anyway. Most soft fruit come originally from a woodland environment and are used to a mulch of leaves and old branches etc so should thrive.
One worry could be honeyfungus, but as long as the chips aren't close up to the stem of the plant I couldn't forsee any problems.
Woodchips when used as a mulch WILL kill plants but it will be weeds they kill not the fruit bushes methinks!

[gardenspirit]

Thanks Snager for your reply...all noted. I was more concerned about my central path with the beds either side of it.The wood chip path is contained within path-edging made from recycled pallets, so its not in direct contact with the plants/veg either side of it but wouldnt anything leach out into the soil I wonder.....??

[Two_Sheds]

I've been using wood chips on my path for years ... never had any problems with leaching (or leeches). You will sometimes get mushrooms growing, but this is normal and okay.

Listen to Snadger, he knows of what he speaks

[gardenspirit]

thanks Twosheds- no need for me to worry then.

[Two_Sheds]

I'd say not