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Fir Tree chipping as Mulch

pugslovesunpugslovesun Posts: 298
in Plants

Hi a friend has a large supply of chipping from fir trees, after reading up on the net there are loads of different opinions about using this as a mulch. It is fresh, just fir chipping and wanted to put it around ordinary shrub/flower borders to suppress weeds.

Thoughts most welcome please!

Posts

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,099

    Over here in France you can buy wood chip from specified types of conifer such as maritime pine and in different calibers.   It works very well as a mulch but is best left to "mature" for a few months before being used.   Some people believe that, as it breaks down, wood chip depletes nitrogen in the soil but RHS tests have shown this to be negligible and far outweighed by the benefits of moisture retention and weed suppression.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • pugslovesunpugslovesun Posts: 298

    Thanks for that, it was I had thought. Does it need to mature because of sap, its not going on veg so would that matter??

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,045

    I'm with Obs, as usual. Wise words.

    As it matures, it looks less like , well, chippings, so I blends better with "soil".

    If you've no room to store it , it can be used now.

    Devon.
  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,162

    There is some suggestion the resins that are present in fresh  fir & pine chippings may be detrimental to some plants when fresh. Allowing to mature negates this.

    AB Still learning

  • pugslovesunpugslovesun Posts: 298

    thank you all. one of those where some of the myths re: acidity will probably carry on. Have got a patch in someones garden that has nothing in it yet but would be good to cover so will use for that. Will store rest. Can it just sit as it is in a mound or need bagging?

    It smells lovely and you can warm your hands in it image

  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 29,099

    Let it sit in a mound.  In a bag it risks going moldy for lack of air or else rotting down to compost.

    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing." - George Bernard Shaw
  • pugslovesunpugslovesun Posts: 298

    Cheers will do. At least its at friends where there is space and I can just go and take a deep breath in now and again.

    Thanks again

  • FireFire Posts: 17,116

    If you don't use it right away, it will make wonderful compost in some months

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