composted forest products

[solway cropper]

Early last year the electricity board cut down and shredded a lot of birch and willow which was growing in the way of power lines which cross the common near here. They left behind numerous big piles of sawdust/woodchips which have rotted down to a lovely dark brown crumbly material. What are the grapes opinions on using this as a growing medium, mixed of course with other materials. I suspect it may be a little on the acid side but ground limestone should sweeten it up. The only limit on quantity would be the amount I'm prepared to lug back home!!

[Glutton4...]

Borrow a large trailer and get shovelling - I would!

The chunkier stuff you can use as a mulch.

[Jeanied]

You may need to do a nutrient test on it before using it. I used rotted horse manure which was on wood shavings as a mulch a couple of years ago and I'm sure this is what gave my apples bitter pit as it had too much Nitrogen.

[Lovage]

Composted bark and woodchip can be a good ingredient for potting compost, increasing the air filled porosity . We use it mixed with composted green waste and sterilized loam.

One problem though is that it tends to rob the compost of Nitrogen as it continues to break down so it is helpful to add extra nitrogen to the mix. Hoof and horn is a good slow release source of nitrogen if you can get it.

I would grab a trailer load or two, use it for compost mixes and also for mulches

[solway cropper]

Thanks for the comments....generally confirming my own thoughts. By the time I get to using it it will be about 2 years old and should be completely rotted but I do intend to mix it with my own composted green waste and sharp sand with the addition of BFB. The hoof and horn idea sounds good though.

Can't get a trailer near it as it's in 1500 acres of peat moss. It's going to have to be rucsack job

[Edwardo82]

Peat moss I wonder what affects that would have on the contents of nutrients etc in the wood, sorry just having a random thought

I would dig some of it into my compost bins whilst giving them a good turning, if you have large bins.

Mulch is a good one too!

Good effort n the ruck sack mission, try to get some friends to come along