Mulching a Walnut

[Bundle 2]

As per the title. I want to know what type of mulch is likely to be best. This tree is a parkland specimen... It is stressed in a typical way given it's location. I want to improve soil health and moisture levels...Location is suffolk.

[wildwood-dwt]

I wouldn't worry too much about the state of the mulch just make sure that the mulch came from trees that didn't have any diseases. And try and get mulch that is partly decomposed and as this will mean that the tree will benefit from the nutrient up take quicker.

 

If the tree is a high value tree and it is suffering from compaction perhaps you could try and aerate the soil with a terravent or air spade. This is expensive but once the tree is gone its gone!

[janey]

Glynn Perceval (ISA P&D Kew, 08/03/11) recommends plain old woodchip. He's currently researching the effects of different species of chip on weed suppression, but for general soil improvement and moisture retention any chip is good.

 

As he's kinda knowledgeable on these things, I'm not going to argue with that!

[Gnarlyoak]

I seem to remember a few years back whilst working at Bartletts, when Glyn Percival was their Science guru working at Reading Uni, he ran some trials on different tree species woodchip as mulch.

 

Overall on the "mono" trials (ie: chip from a single species of tree) Hawthorn came out as the best mulch for any/all other tree species. Why...? I can't remember!

 

But mixed woodchip is just fine, as Wildwood says though, it would be best if it was at least about 12mths old. Avoid chip with Rhodedendron and too much conifer. And as again Wildwood suggests, de-compacting the ground beforehand are wise words indeed. If you can you will get better results.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

I would'nt worry about decompaction too much, some people recommend putting a cardboard layer underneath but a sprinkling of blood fish and bone does the same job, its the fish by products used in making the glue for the cardboard that attracts the worms!

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

and for the record, a visit to varios woodland floors will quickly reveal that sycamore and ash leaves are the most worm favoured food I would want chip from a syc or ash in full leave when chipped

[Bundle 2]

My next question then....

Does anyone operating in and around north suffolk have any decent, broadleaved chip?

Clearly, it needs to be at least 3-4 months old but more in preference and frankly, it needs to have been managed at least a bit in terms of it's having been turned in/over whilst standing to keep that "process" alive. Im after at least a couple buck loads-more if you have it ! PM me please ?

Tim

Edited March 17, 2011 by Bundle 2

[John Shutler]

Mr Percival also commented that it wasn't necessary for wood chip to be well rotted. Infect fresh chip was fine

[Bundle 2]

Think that was implied in wildwood's first post tbh...It doesnt have to be....but given a choice, Id obviously ask for a turned ( 8-12mtth old) chip from either a mix of the following or single species type...Syccy, Ash or hawthorn...

As this is unlikely ( Have you tried sourcing a mulch? You'll only find a bark based product available basically..certainly there are no businesses who make their business to supply "premium " chip for this purpose.)

Kinda why I asked tbh...might be forced to go down the cardboard and straw route !

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

bundle, trust me, most chip you get will be a mix of species and will be fine, avoid a load of connie hedges chiuppins and it will be fine, you are in effect trying to recreat the forest floor, and fresh or mix species is cool. if anything I would prefer fresh, taking a bit of nitro out of the soil is no bad thing in the short time, and may push the tree into increasing its root secretions helping the rhizosphere no end.