MUlch from Tree trimming company.... anybody use this??

[tinkster]

I have a distant cousin in the tree trimming business and he will bring me loads and loads of the shredded trees he chops down.  I have such huge areas that mulching would be almost unaffordable to me.  I need something down there till I can get ground covers established.  I am thinking there has to be a reason that they dont sell this stuff as mulch??  maybe termites?? or is some of it posionus to plants?  anybody else use it??

tinkster

[Koi Boi]

For my purposes the xylem of a tree has too high a carbon content, which means I have to watch my plants more carefully to insure they do not become chlorotic.   I prefer to mulch my bedding plants with a material with a natural nitrogen content  high enough that decomposition  of the mulch occurs without leaching  any soil borne nitrogen from my plants.  Since decomposition is primary in nature and plant growth is secondary, the carbon/nitrogen ratio must be considered  in using  a heavy mulch such as I do.  The carbon/nitrogen ratio needs to be around 30/1 (thirty parts carbon  to one part nitrogen ) for the average gardener making compost at a leisurely pace (six months to a year for the end product).   Over the years, I’ve mulched with oat straw, wheat straw, peanut hulls, pecan hulls, tree bark, shredded tree leaves, cottonseed hulls, sawdust, wood shavings and wood chips.  The materials I least like for bedding plants are sawdust, wood shavings, and wood chips , in fact I refuse to use them around any plants because the carbon/nitrogen ratio often approaches 800/1.  For the last fifteen years I have used shredded leaves and/or cottonseed hulls exclusively, with no ill effects to my plants except for an occasional crown rot when I’ve allowed the mulch to get too close to sensitive plants.  I don’t mention grass clippings as a mulch because they sour  quickly when applied green in a thick enough layer to be effective, thus  becoming smelly and drawing flies.  I much prefer making use of the high protein content of green grass clippings by tilling them thoroughly into the vegetable garden where they will be unrecognizable within two weeks, adding greatly to the nutrient content of the garden.   But for the intent and purpose of covering  large expanses heavily with wood chips to prevent or retard weed growth or cut down tracking mud when the area is wet, I would recommend it as long as it is 30 feet or more from your home or cars.  Wood products as mulch are notorious for harboring a type of fungus that mares the finish of home siding and cars….uh…some kind of shot or artillery fungus, I believe.   Anyway , I hope this helps Tinkster….if not …give me a holler!
Paul

[LeeAnne151]

Tink, I've read many people using it on gardening forums, I've read of people using it in gardening magazines. Some cities and towns give it away too.

The opportunity hasn't presented itself to me and I don't have that much area to mulch anyway. I'd go for it if I were you.

[Koi Boi]

LeeAnne has the short answer alright Tink, but it has a long term consequences!    I guarantee it, but don’t take my word for it.  check out this site and the links at the bottom of it. 

http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=552


Paul

[tinkster]

thanks yall  I guess I could use the horsemanure that I have available by the tons.  dont think much would grow in that right off. .its so hot and rich .

tinkster

[LeeAnne151]

Fresh manure will burn plants, often to death.

[livetogarden]

Tink,
  I use free mulch in my flower beds all the time. My best advice is get it early in the spring before the trees start to leaf out. You can still use it after they leaf out too but it won't look as nice right off since there will be bits of green leaves in it. I've found that the tree people will be honest with you about a tree being diseased with something you would want to stay away from. Especially with this being a cousin that shouldn't be a problem.
Cath

[EagleEye]

Tink,
I'd get as much mulch from your cousin as he would bring you.

I just read Koi Boys link and all I can  say is WOW. I'd rethink my above sugestion.

Steve

[Indiana Karen]

Several years ago the power company was trimming and chipping the trees down our road.  We received several loads and spread it around the tree line that goes along our driveway.  After we had it spread a friend of ours that owns a nursery told us that it would kill our trees.  We ignored his warning and left it there.  All of the trees, except one big sycamore, died within about five years.  These were not trees that we had planted, they were in the woods along our drive.  He had told us to let it sit at least a year before we spread it.
Koi Boi, very interesting article, thanks for the link.  We buy a large load of hardwood mulch every year.  All of our sidewalks have a black mold which we clean each spring.  We have noticed mold on our aluminum downspouts and eaves (the house is brick).  I love the look of the dark mulch, but now wonder if its worth it.
Karen

[EagleEye]

This is one of those threads that should probably be read by everyone, but I'm sure that it won't. I have access to our village compost. my buddies who work for the village will (and have, in fact my shade garden that I built has a good 4" of my villages compost on it.) bring me bucket loads of the old compost and starting next year, that is what I will be using.
Thanks so much for enlightening me,

Steve

[Kittyzee]

I have yet to read the article by Koi Boi, but the only problem I can see right off is if you are allergic to poison ivy (which I am extremely!!) be careful since it gets chopped up along with the wood and is throughout the product!!

[beautifulhome]

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