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Title: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: dickndoris on February 27, 2009, 18:45:31

My first post. Please be gentle:-)

I have acquired a plot of land at the back of my house that is very overgrown with nettle,grass and bramble. I have cleared 2 beds at 5'x30' each with wood sides at 4". The soil is very heavy clay but as you dig it gets a little bit like sandy clay. It is a flood plain so handy for water maybe so I guess this is why the soil changes?;-) I have dug in 2 big builders bags of very well rotted horse muck, free from local stables and 1 big bag of 3 year old wood chip. These are the large 1 ton bags.
My question is-- Should I have dug in the wood chip? I will be growing the easy stuff to start mainly spuds which are chiting as I type and the earlies are near ready to plant along with sprouts, maybe carrots the squat type,radish tomms,pumpkin,raspberry,goosgog etc.

Thanks in advance

Rich

Title: Re: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: saddad on February 27, 2009, 18:48:18

Welcome to the site Rich... sounds like some alluvial silt you've got there...
If it has been rotting for three years then digging it in will be great... all that humus.. ;D

Title: Re: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: mat on February 27, 2009, 18:59:26

as long as the wood chip has rotted down, it will be fine... something many people do not realise is that wood chip when decomposing (i.e. when people spread it on their borders as mulch) is that it takes up a lot of nitrogen in the process... fine, but means one needs to fertilise more during the year. Once decomposed, then its great as saddad has said as humus

mat

Title: Re: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: manicscousers on February 27, 2009, 19:18:44

Hiya, Rich, welcome to a4a.. ;D
I would think that after 3 years, the wood chip's more like soil :)

Title: Re: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: dickndoris on February 27, 2009, 19:31:20

Thanks all for the replies. I was a little worried about the nitrogen bit but my mind is at rest now ;)

Yes, it is like soil, very dark brown with the odd twig that rake out OK. I may go get a little more as it has broken the soil down great. Owt for nowt eh:-))

Rich

Title: Re: well rotted wood chip on heavy clay?
Post by: Lauren S on February 27, 2009, 19:35:59

Hello Dick N Doris and welcome to A4A

Sounds ike you are doing a great job.
Don't forget to take lots of pics...before. during and after ;)

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