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Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
4 posters
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Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
pkelly251 6/24/2020, 3:55 pm
I have just built 2 additional raised beds both 1’ high. I also was able to get a load of fresh wood chips. I am wondering if putting about 4”- 6” of the wood chips in the bottom of the beds, over cardboard, would create any problems. I know it would eventually be a great addition to the soil, but since the wood chips are fresh, would they pull to much nitrogen from the Mel’s Mix I put in the top 6-8”?
pkelly251-
Posts : 6
Join date : 2020-06-02
Location : Pillager, MN 4A
Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
OhioGardener 6/24/2020, 5:09 pm
If they are fresh wood chips, they will draw a lot of nitrogen out of the soil to begin the decomposition process. This would probably make the soil poor quality for growing vegetables the first year. But, if they are aged or partially composted wood chips, they will be fine.
If you can't use the chips as base for the beds, they will make excellent mulch on top of the beds as long as they are not mixed in with the soil. As long as they lay on top of the soil, they will not pull nitrogen from the soil.
If you can't use the chips as base for the beds, they will make excellent mulch on top of the beds as long as they are not mixed in with the soil. As long as they lay on top of the soil, they will not pull nitrogen from the soil.
"In short, the soil food web feeds everything you eat and helps keep your favorite planet from getting too hot. Be nice to it." ~ Diane Miessler, "Grow Your Soil"
OhioGardener
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Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
donnainzone5 6/25/2020, 1:02 pm
I'd probably put the wood chips under the cardboard.
donnainzone5
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Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
pkelly251 6/26/2020, 7:13 am
I appreciate the thoughts. Thank you.
pkelly251- Posts : 6
Join date : 2020-06-02
Location : Pillager, MN 4A
Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
sanderson 7/3/2020, 7:01 am
pkelly, I would personally use the wood chips around the beds in the isles to keep the weeds down and provide decent pathways during the rain.
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Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
pkelly251 7/4/2020, 1:04 pm
I ended up driving 70 miles to purchase a pickup load of STA certified compost. I used that for the base layer and put Mel’s Mix in the top 6”. When it was loaded on the truck I was surprised to see it steaming and now realize it has a ways to go before finished. So I did place a layer of cardboard between that and the Mel’s Mix.
I am placing some of the wood chips in a compost bin and will use the others to place on the ground around the raised beds.
Since this is a late start, I’m not certain what I can plant that I enjoy (North edge of zone 4) this year yet. I’m looking into that. I do plan to plant garlic in the fall for next year. But, the beds should be ready for next spring.
I am placing some of the wood chips in a compost bin and will use the others to place on the ground around the raised beds.
Since this is a late start, I’m not certain what I can plant that I enjoy (North edge of zone 4) this year yet. I’m looking into that. I do plan to plant garlic in the fall for next year. But, the beds should be ready for next spring.
pkelly251- Posts : 6
Join date : 2020-06-02
Location : Pillager, MN 4A
Re: Wood chips in bottom of new raised beds?
sanderson 7/7/2020, 6:42 pm
Do you like cool weather plants, such as cilantro, bok choy, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, radish, parsnips? https://gardenate.com/?month=7
sanderson
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donnainzone5
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Location : Bend, OR (Zone 5-6) -
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