Re: nitrogen/woodchips

**L* R* <l*@hvc.rr.com>**

Jeff, you've said more thoroughly what I meant to say.

Lee Reich, PhD
http://www.leereich.com/
http://leereich.com/blog.html.

Books by Lee Reich:
A Northeast Gardener's Year
The Pruning Book
Weedless Gardening
Uncommon Fruits for Every Garden
Landscaping with Fruit

On May 17, 2011, at 6:15 PM, Jeff Lowenfels wrote:

> Lee, did really mean that wood chips will suck nitrogen from plants?
> I am quite sure you didn't, but rather meant suck nitrogen from the soil around plants.
> 
> I agree with you. The bacteria and fungi in contact with the mulch will tie up nitrogen (it is not lost, just not available to plants until they are eaten and digested). This is a very thin layer of soil where the nitrogen is tied up. When mulch is IN the soil instead of ON the soil, it has a totally different surface area exposed to the soil and tying up nitrogen. If this is near the roots, I suppose there could be trouble for the plant in getting enough nitrogen…
> 
> Teaming,
> 
> jeff
> 
> 
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