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new wood chippings

dave56armstrongdave56armstrong Posts: 50
in Problem solving
a group of us have started a community garden on council land the council gave us a pile of wood chippings to use as a mulch but it looks like new wood and probably pine/conifer, is is suitable to use straight away or does it need to age?

Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    it's fine used as a mulch
    Devon.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Some people think it's a problem. I wouldn't be worried though, assuming it's for a general mulch.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    It should be fine as long as there's no willow in it.  I was given some years ago by council workers pollarding willows on a filthy day so they sheltered at our place for lunch and loo breaks.    Left me a huge pile of wood chip as a thank you.

    It worked really well except for the bits that sprouted and tried to grow new trees!   Vigorous stuff so took a bit of weeding out but you won't have that problem with conifers.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • dave56armstrongdave56armstrong Posts: 50
    Some people say it will deplete the nitrogen in the soil, we have planted a lot of young plants so I wouldn't want to inhibit them, so a little confused, but thanks for advice so far. 
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - it won't  :)
    The biggest problem if the plants are young, and especially if they're small, is that they're more vulnerable to pests like slugs, and also environmental conditions - especially wet, cold soil. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    It will only remove nitrogen where it touches the soil, so if you lay it on top as a mulch there won't be a problem, if you mix it in with the soil you will get a problem.
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    The RHS has done trials.  The amount of nitrogen needed from the soil during the process of breaking down the chippings is negligible.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • dave56armstrongdave56armstrong Posts: 50
    thanks everyone, that's all a great help.
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