Topic: Wood chippings = mulch?

[Nelson]

Can wood chippings (as opposed to bark) be used for mulching?  Is it going to rot down quickly or will it take ages?

I've got a buddy who's a tree surgeon so he's oftern got a huge pile of shredded trees going spare.  I'm planning to lay it on top of weedproof membrane for paths but I'm not sure if it's suitable as a weed supressant on the beds and between the veg.

[Froglegs]

As long as they are not Hawthorn, the thorns don't shred :o and can go right  through a flip-flop :( :-[ ::) apart from that not a prob. ;D

[Carls3168]

Ive used woodchipings on my paths rather then bark (mainly becasue our local nursary will sell you a large trailer full for £8!  ;D
They do rot down over time... but at that price you can top them up for little expense - or even for free if your getting them from your mate!

Only problem I have noticed is mushrooms in the Autumn growing from them!

[Pigletwillie]

We use them all of the time. Clean feet even in winter, tis a boon.

[cornykev]

OK for a path or to mulch around bushes, but if you put it straight onto the soil it will take a long time to break down therefore taking the nitrogen out of it .   ;D ;D ;D

[cambourne7]

we get conifers shreaded for free dropped off its great when you move it as it smells like christmas :-)

but the answer is Wood chippings = Mulch = YES

[tim]

Must remember that this year, because we use a couple of bales as floor cover in the greenhouse every season.

[cambourne7]

tim i guess you just pop them into the compost bin at the end of the year?

[Nelson]

OK for a path or to mulch around bushes, but if you put it straight onto the soil it will take a long time to break down therefore taking the nitrogen out of it .   ;D ;D ;D

So for a mulch/soil improver it would be better to use bark (we have heavy clay soil) and use the chippings for paths and mulch/weed supressant around permanent planting?

[flytrapman]

Use it on paths & after it has rotted use it as a mulch/conditioner & replace the paths with new chippings

[tim]

Actuaaaally, Cambourne, I've been rotting it down on its own before use.

But it'll save me on bark paths.

[Baccy Man]

Woodchips need to be aged for a mimimum of 6 months before they can be used as a mulch other wise they will cause nitrogen immobilisation.

Although if they are fresh woodchips made from from leafless branches no more than 7cm thick which were cut from broadleaved trees they could be used as ramial chip wood if you haven't heard of that then you can read more about it in this pdf document.
http://www.ediblenature.com/library/PDF_e-books/9_chipped.pdf

[kt.]

Woodchips need to be aged for a mimimum of 6 months before they can be used as a mulch other wise they will cause nitrogen immobilisation.

I agree with baccyman. Also, if fresh woodchippings are used less than 5-6 months old - they can scorch your crops as they are too rich.

[Travman]

 ???
I used them freshly chipped on  my paths, i mix a handfull every now and then in my compost heap when its very wet, I put them round my daffs, rhubarb and my gunera plant and use a couple of inches on my greenhouse floor .
Ive never encounted scorching or seen my plants struggling. Maybe i've been lucky :-\
But i will continue to use them as they are FREE by the lorry load !!  ;D

[manicscousers]

we use them around all our fruit trees and bushes, our fruit seems to like it   ;D

[cambourne7]

yep we get it free and i just use it in paths.

Unfortunatly its not scortching weeds :-(

[Nelson]

Woodchips need to be aged for a mimimum of 6 months before they can be used as a mulch other wise they will cause nitrogen immobilisation.

Although if they are fresh woodchips made from from leafless branches no more than 7cm thick which were cut from broadleaved trees they could be used as ramial chip wood if you haven't heard of that then you can read more about it in this pdf document.
http://www.ediblenature.com/library/PDF_e-books/9_chipped.pdf

Every day is indeed a school day  ;D

I think I'll have to build an extra bin for woodchips then.  Better make it a big one!