Tree Murder !

[Maf]

I have been forced to hire the services of a Tree Murderer as my old Ash tree is about to fall over and squash my house

After the butchering there will be a huge pile of woodchip.

I read somewhere that using fresh chip leaches some element from the soil as it decomposes. Problem is I can't remember which

I'm not going to be using it on veg beds. I hope to use it to improve some crappy soil and create a shrub border.

Any advice ?

[womble]

Hardly murder.

Compost the chips for a while, then use as mulches.

If you're that worried about the tree, plant two new ones.

[Duronal]

Or plant something else that is native to the UK. Like hazle, beech or an elder.

more details can be found here.

The Woodland Trust | Events | Native trees

Enjoy

D.

[vicky]

I'm pretty sure your chipped wood will take nitrogen from the soil as it decomposes. When it is rotted it will return the nitrogen (and more) back to the soil.
I would be happy to use it in my garden in a shrub border but not in a bed with 'hungrey' plants like veggies. Some people also use it for pathways and chipped wood can be used for chickens too. I think Ash is supposed to be the best wood if you have an open fire - save on your gas bill this winter?

[Headfry]

Maf, I know how you feel and why you say 'tree murderer' We have one coming any day now, to prune huge eucalyptus tree in our garden (not planted by us)
I have to make sure I am out for the day as I cry!!! I'm such a baby when it come to trees.

[Maf]

I've already planted 60 meters of native hedging and about 150 trees

Just placed my yearly bareroot order with Hopes Grove Nursuries
Still feeling guilty tho

I live in the High Dales, so my Ash is a landmark tree. (At least until my new Wood becomes established )

The wood burner will be happy and I just love getting my chopper out on a cold misty morning, but back to the point...

Should I add nitrogen to the soil before scattering the chip (don't really have time to leave it stacked)

[Maf]

Hey HF do you have a wood burner ?

I was on Hols in the Blue Mountains of Oz a few years back and they had a huge open fire burning eucalyptus. The smell was amazing.

Oddly enough as the BMs are a national park they had to import the wood from elsewhere !

[ava]

I'm pretty sure your chipped wood will take nitrogen from the soil as it decomposes.

Vicky is right. If the carbon to nitrogen ratio of rotting material is above 20:1 the bacteria responsible for decomposition of the material won't have enough nitrogen to chew up all the carbon that is around and have to get it from a source other than the rotting material, i.e. the soil. Therefore, if you use woodchippings as a mulch, which I believe has a C:N >100:1,the bacteria will use all the lovely nitrogen in your soil and then release it as ammonia gas to the atmosphere, where it is no good to your plants. Therefore it is best to let your chippings rot down for a couple of years or, as you say, add lots of nitrogen at the same time.

All a bit boring unless you are a scientist like me, but if you want the full story I think it is quite well explained here:

Compost Fundamentals: Compost Needs - Carbon Nitrogen Relationships

Enjoy!

[Maf]

Where would I get 'Lots of nitrogen' from ?

[Capsid]

Where would I get 'Lots of nitrogen' from ?

Pee! You'll save in flushing the toilet too.

[Headfry]

Maf, we have an open fire....will it spit? can I use it straight away?
Bet we would stay clear of colds!

[Maf]

You'l probly have to season it first i think.

[Alice]

Headfry, I've burned Eucalyptus and it does smell lovely. No it doesn't spark. All wood is better seasoned but we burned it as it came and it was fine. It'll make up for having to cut it.

[SlugLobber]

Pee! You'll save in flushing the toilet too.

PMSL if you'll pardon the pun, ha ha ha! Welcome to the forum, fellow scientist!

[lynda66]

I had to chop some elderberry and hawthorn trees down, they were all half dead, as they had been left to grow unchecked since the house was built(about 50 years)sometimes it just has to be done..... they were shading most of my garden too, cut all of them down to about 3 foot of trunk, and they are all growing back now, i'm planning on planting fruit trees instead, so looks like i might have to do a bit more work on them, haven't got an open fire, but i have piled all the branches and trunks up, and hopefully the heap will provide a nice winter home for lots of creatures