Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

NHGardener 4/30/2011, 8:11 pm

A local dump has a brush drop-off service for residents. Then the dump chips everything up, and you can go get chips for free. They have a mountain of wood chips.

We were going to put that in between the boxes, but it crossed my mind that I might be bringing in bugs.

What is the thinking on that?

Glendale-gardener 4/30/2011, 8:24 pm

personally, I would be more worried about jerks that put poison ivy in their brush for pick up instead of proper disposal. Chipping that stuff up just spreads the uroshiol around and it takes a longgggg time to go dormant.

Not sure about bugs, I wouldn't have thought of that!

sbhoward 4/30/2011, 8:51 pm

From personal experience: A hired landscaper adding shredded wood to the shrubbery beds used mulch from the city like you are asking about.

I have been continually been pulling out plastic bag pieces, tie wraps like from bread wrappers, and today I even picked up a 8 inch piece of large cable with multiple strands of wire running through it. Many othr types of waste debris.

While in theory this is a great way to recycle, you have no control over the process or knowledge of what went into it sad to say. And, like Glendale-Gardener said - what about noxious weeds, pesticides, etc.

For me personally - no Way! It's not worth the few bucks you will save, especially to be eating Veggies grown in the stuff.

Good Luck

Steve
www.growingyourgrub.com

NHGardener 4/30/2011, 9:54 pm

Steve - Yeah, I hadn't thought of the pesticide issue.

You wouldn't put in in the walkways between the boxes either?

Old Hippie 5/1/2011, 9:53 am

Steve and NH, that is a real shame. The whole idea of putting bins for people to dump their yard waste is so it can be composted by the city is such a great idea. But there are always people who will try to spoil a good thing. We don't have any poison ivy where I live so I am lucky that way, but that is something I would not have thought about at all. And I have seen people throwing all kinds of things in those bins that should not be thrown in like regular garbage with oil cans in it.

I can get wood chips from local sawmills for really cheap. I haven't bothered with stuff from the city, since there doesn't seem to be a way for them to control someone contaminating it.

Gwynn

westie42 5/1/2011, 5:03 pm

I agree furthermore that is true of anything community like grass clippings and compost content. You mite call a few tree trimmers to see if they would unload a pile for you from somewhere close by rather than have to haul them further to a landfill. A stump remover would be the same option.

Sponsored content

Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

Re: Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

I wouldn't do it

Re: Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

Re: Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

Re: Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?

Re: Will wood chips from the dump bug infest my SFG?


	Hello Guest! Welcome to the official Square Foot Gardening Forum. There's lots to learn here by reading as a guest. However, if you become a member (it's free, ad free and spam-free) you'll have access to our large vermiculite databases, our seed exchange spreadsheets, Mel's Mix calculator, and many more members' pictures in the Gallery. Enjoy.