wood chips

[cjgibson]

I have been offered wood chips from popluar trees. Would the be good on a flower bed?

[andyjevs]

They'll be fine. They will keep weeds down, retain moisture, slowly rot and provide food for the plants and they look good....go for it .

[WendyS]

I can't foresee any problem. They'll provide a good mulch and will rot down into the soil over a couple of years. The only thing to remember, if you're going to add a good thick layer, is to ensure that the soil underneath is thoroughly moist first, otherwise it might be difficult for rain to penetrate right down to the roots of deeper shrubs, etc.

[logman]

Wood chips of any kind should only be used as a mulch if it has been stacked for a period of a least six weeks. This will allow potentially harmfull residues, ie monoterpenes,volatile, oils, tanins and mildew/fungi to leach out (process known as "maturing" or "weathering").Poplar wood when burnt gives off a bitter acrid smoke which would indicate high levels of toxins and for this reason i would not use it fresh,and only then restrict its use to shrub beds rather than flower beds.

[Kingaroo]

The only tree I know for sure you should NOT use for mulch is black walnut -- you'll notice nothing much grows under those trees -- it is because they have toxins that suppress their competition (most other plants).

[logman]

Yes i take your point kingaroo but some other trees have their own built in "weed suppresant" ie beech and horse chestnut, "soponin" i believe is one, thats why i think its important to stack it for six weeks or so. Also if a flower bed is occaisionally dug over when planting etc your gonna end up with unrotted wood chips below the surfice, which may in turn attract woodlice which are also partial to Dhalias etc. I would be keen to know if the tree died of honey fungus or not, small black threads would be a clue..