Re: Wood chip mulch




>
>
> <<  the carbon will search for the nitrogen, even stripping it from your
> plants and soil.  >>
> I heard this wasn't a problem with mulch laying on top of the soil.  Nitrogen
> would be stripped from the plants only when the mulch was mixed with the soil
> to decompose.  What do you think?  Made sense to me.  Seemed unlikely the
> nitrogen would be drawn up and out.  Also, would this be true when using grass
> as mulch.  I've been using it for years with good results.

Barb,

No, wherever the nitrogen is, whether it be in the soil or in your plants, it will
be taken and used as energy.  Haven't you ever seen foliage of boundary shrubs or
privacy hedging yellowed, and noticed a new mulch of "Hot" wood chips?

Two years ago, I was thinking of using a hot mulch in my cold frames beneath the
plants  as a way to winter over tender perennials.  Every other nursery that I
asked told me that the Carbon in the "hot" mulch would find it's nitrogen, going
right through the plastic of the pots, and strip it from both the plants and their
potting mix.

So, I really wouldn't recommend it...

However, I've never herad the same thing about grass.  I think it's because it has
a higher nitrogen content to begin with, and decomposes faster.

Rika

Willow Pond Nursery        http://www.willowpondnursery.com

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