Wood chips as mulch

[Walter John]

This western garden main area is now complete, mulch added, a couple more palms planted, a lone cordyline added and fills of bromeliads for some colour and effect.

I used another metre of Cypress chip but needed more, unfortunately the local landscape mob ran out so I had to grab a half metre of hardwood chip instead. Not as nice smelling and a little different shade, but I really didn't want to wait so I went ahead. Note once again I used sugar cane mulch around the actual plants (except broms).

This is an all new style of mulching for me by using the chip, it does create paths and is fun to walk on and around. I aim to be viligant to look after this area more now, and I'll spot kill weeds and grass that will pop up. I like to try new methods of mulching, try other fertilisers, it's fun and great to learn it all. Make it fun I say.

Here's some photos and thanks again to Rafael who really inspired me to try this method. I wish I had this completed for that last society garden visit, oh well, good luck to all your palms.

[Walter John]

Some light showers have fallen, the day is quite overcast, makes for better photos some times. By the way I have been collecting broms for a while now and have a bank of them awaiting further garden positioning etc., so that was fun to do. You might consider that, collect and hold onto some sun loving broms until your main gardening is carried out because they are too easy to slot in wherever.

[Walter John]

Finally some close ups of the sugar cane mulch around the plants and then surrounded by the wood chips.

That is Willie's Gold cordy I think.

Thanks

keep panting, keep planting

[DALION]

Finally some close ups of the sugar cane mulch around the plants and then surrounded by the wood chips.

Thanks

keep panting, keep planting

Thanks for sharing all these pics. I am curious what the rocks are for. I have rocks in my planting bed too but they are there for decorative reasons and not placed that close to the palms. Do the rocks help keep the palm warm by holding the heat?

[Walter John]

Finally some close ups of the sugar cane mulch around the plants and then surrounded by the wood chips.

Thanks

keep panting, keep planting

Thanks for sharing all these pics. I am curious what the rocks are for. I have rocks in my planting bed too but they are there for decorative reasons and not placed that close to the palms. Do the rocks help keep the palm warm by holding the heat?

Yes and yes Dalion. The rocks hold heat and they are there for a natural look, I love rocks, I'd have more and bigger if I was stronger. Also if I didn't place them near the plants I'd probably trip over them . Thanks for your post, it was a lot of hard work, especially the digging and removal of weeds/grass.

[Tassie_Troy1971]

That area with the mulch makes a hell of a difference now ! and i am sure the palms will appreciate the weed free planter beds .

[Hammer]

That looks sharp Wal. That will pay off in spades over time.

[avb]

I don't have personal experience, but a friend decided to use wood shavings on another grower's advice and had some problems. He used fresh shavings from conifers which stopped or drastically slowed growth of nearly everything he had in his garden for about a year.

It turned out the other grower had been using old stable litter, not fresh shavings. The stable litter was aged about a year before it was used in the garden, allowing some form of natural anti-growth chemical in the fresh shavings to deteriorate before it was spread around the palms.

I would advise against using fresh chips or shavings from conifers(pine, spruce, fir, etc.) unless it has been aged outdoors for at least 1 year.

[Phoenikakias]

Hear, hear...

[DALION]

I was at work today and i saw the wood shop teacher dumping the saw dust bin. There was about 2 yards of saw dust and I thought it might be useful and mulch around the palms I plant at work.

Is saw dust a very poor idea as a mulch?

[Jerry@TreeZoo]

sawdust should be thoroughly composted unless you fert first. With chips, there is some nitrogen but in sawdust almost none.

[richnorm]

Use it!

[Peter Pacific]

Two pickups full of mulch...YEA!

[Rafael]

P1130669.JPGTwo pickups full of mulch...YEA!

What kind of mulch is that, Peter?

[Peter Pacific]

Hi Rafael, it's cedar I get from a local carpenter. It breaks down fairly quickly but it's great on the volcanic sand.

Peter

[Alistair123]

Willow tree chips are not toxic in the same way Walnut chips are toxic. However, wood chips, regardless of toxicity, can tie up plant nutrients, especially nitrogen. This is either good or bad depending on your situation and goals.

If you:

put the chips on a path, the chips will reduce the health of weeds and make the weeds a little easier to pull.
use the chips to mulch around trees and shrubs. Be sure you don't put the mulch right up against the trunk or stem of the tree or shrub. Mulch up against the trunk or stem supports slugs, sow bugs, and mice that may chew on the trunk or stem. Not good.