Woodchip mulching

[queen of the cobs]

Hello all,

I found an interesting link to an article about woodchip mulching on the 'what I did today' thread. http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pub...Production.pdf

It suggests mulching your beds with chip after planting out is not only beneficial in keeping weeds down, but in keeping soil quality high.

I'd welcome people's thoughts on this if they've experimented. The article suggests 3 inch diameter of chip is the ideal, (better than 6 inch) and hardwood rather than conifer. Now, I'm pretty sure that the chip available on my plot is mostly conifer. And it's nowhere near 3 inches in diameter. What about everyone else? And do you add extra nitrogen (seaweed?) as the article suggests? 'Sawdust' (presumably the usual chip is what he means) is not a s good as it ties up lots more nitrogen).

It's a short article, but if you don't want to read it, basically, around 20 lbs of chip on a 15 foot bed should mimic the articles recommendations for 10 tons per acre.

I wanted to experiment with a decent mulch this year, to keep the weeds down, as I can only get to the plot a couple of times a week, and don't want to spend my whole time weeding!

Am sure you'll have lots of suggestions.
Thanks.
)

[alldigging]

I would have thought the smaller it is the more quickly it can break down and need nitrogen. Hence sawdust not being as good.

I have been toying with the idea of using it as a mulch around bushes we have a big pile available.

I have used some again this year in a hugelkulture bed of sorts and used some to insulate a globe artichoke. Although this technique needed one big pot and a bigger container so I've only done one. But it'll be interesting to see if the plant survives.

If you put lots down as a mulch and it doesn't work then you can still pull the weeds out - and they might come out easier if the soil is softer underneath.
The mulch layer will protect the soil surface and should encourage the worms too.


The research that pdf references is
http://fls.cals.cornell.edu/OCRPDF/FLS-002.pdf

[HeyWayne]

zaz is your girl when it comes to soil structure...

For me, wood chip mulch makes huge sense. There's a company not far from my allotment that sells wood chip at £10 a load (quite what a load is, I am yet to discover). I'm inclined to use it in abundance over my beds to help retain water, soil structure and surpress weeds - it's all win as far as I can see.

[roitelet]

I have used it for several years now but only on the flower beds. Works a treat and really supresses the weed growth. For the veg plot I use straw which can be dug in at the end of the crop. Both help to retain water and provide some protection during the winter.

[SarzWix]

I use wood-chip round my fruit bushes, and it keeps most weeds down, but nothing seems to stop the couch grass

Like roitelet though, I use straw on the veg beds; it's cheaper, you don't need to spend as much to get a thick layer, and it's 'softer' too, so less likely to damage seedling when planting them out.

[Bigmallly]

When it says 3" diam, I think it means the diam of the branch prior to shredding. I am collecting newspaper at the moment & my plan is to plant through the paper then mulch with chippings.

http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...per_69465.html

[queen of the cobs]

Ok, thanks all. Always lots of helpful advice here on the vine,

I was worrying that conifer heavy chip might make the soil a bit acidic?

[zazen999]

zaz is your girl when it comes to soil structure...

For me, wood chip mulch makes huge sense. There's a company not far from my allotment that sells wood chip at £10 a load (quite what a load is, I am yet to discover). I'm inclined to use it in abundance over my beds to help retain water, soil structure and surpress weeds - it's all win as far as I can see.

Thank you!

Yes I do mulch heavily and we have done it with chippings popped through the shredder all winter; will reuse it when we plant out in the spring. I personally use sawdust at the lottie as it just works so well and keeps things nicely mulched and the slugs away. Usually...

[VirginVegGrower]

I use wood-chip round my fruit bushes, and it keeps most weeds down, but nothing seems to stop the couch grass.

Turnups are supposed to work

[alldigging]

I personally use sawdust at the lottie as it just works so well and keeps things nicely mulched and the slugs away. Usually...

Where do you get your sawdust from?

[zazen999]

Where do you get your sawdust from?

Trevor.....my sawdust fairy gets it and drops 2 bags as a time up my plot.

[alldigging]

Trevor.....my sawdust fairy gets it and drops 2 bags as a time up my plot.

Where do I find myself a sawdust fairy?

[zazen999]

Where do I find myself a sawdust fairy?

Chadderton Sawmills Ltd Oldham - Manufacturers

[VirginVegGrower]

Come here and do some sawing - you can have the dustings and some logs

[alldigging]

Chadderton Sawmills Ltd Oldham - Manufacturers

Thank you! I will give them a call tomorrow!
I had rung round various places before Christmas and then got distracted by the offer of piles of free woodchip!