Wood shavings as mulch?

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Hello all. I have a friend who's a joiner and is wanting to get rid of sacks of wood shavings (of various types). I'm looking for a mulch for the winter. Is mulching with wood shavings a good or bad idea? Would it be better to compost it or rot it down like leaf litter first? And experience or insights welcome. Thanks!

[Aberdeenplotter]

if not composted or rotted down first, the shavings will leach nitrogen out of the soil. You don't say where the mulch is to be put down. If it's on an open bit of ground that won't matter but bear in mind that you may be depriving any plants/crops of nutrients

[Bigmallly]

I would be tempted to put it on the compost heap, it will get really hot. I use chippings if I want to speed up the compost process.

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Aberdeen, I'm not sure where it's going yet or even if it's going anywhere! The replies on here will dictate my actions...

But thanks for the info. Is this nitrogen-leaching action significant? If it holds down weeds then I'm happy to throw on a bit of extra chicken pellets.

BigMally. Why would shavings compost hotter than anything else? I'm tempted by this idea as my compost heap isn't really taking off this year. I've done all the activating and brown/green ratio but so far just a dormant pile in the Dalek. Which seems to be at the same level no matter what I put in- something must be happening I suppose! I suspect the blinking vole population explosion is helping itself.

Thanks for the ideas.

[Guest]

I throw my chicken bedding (shavings and poo) straight on top of beds and it has always been fine. Do be warned tho, your neighbours may not like you on a dry windy day when you put it down

[Aberdeenplotter]

Is this nitrogen-leaching action significant? If it holds down weeds then I'm happy to throw on a bit of extra chicken pellets.

Yups . if it's not in a growing area, it won't matter so you will beable to save your chicken pellets

[Bigmallly]

BigMally. Why would shavings compost hotter than anything else? I'm tempted by this idea as my compost heap isn't really taking off this year. I've done all the activating and brown/green ratio but so far just a dormant pile in the Dalek. Which seems to be at the same level no matter what I put in- something must be happening I suppose! I suspect the blinking vole population explosion is helping itself.

Thanks for the ideas.

Hot Compost – Composting in 18 Days | Deep Green Permaculture

[VolesAteMyPeas]

Ok. Thanks Aberdeen. I don't have many empty beds at the moment. I've put in onions and garlic to fill in the gaps so I suppose I WAS thinking about mulching around fruit plants and artichokes. And I have loads of kale and leeks. Maybe not a good idea!

[alldigging]

Get it wet (Make your own compost activator) and it'll rot down really quickly. And then you can use it as a mulch