Woodchip Gardens the way forward!

[agg221]

No because they're bein paid to burn it all to keep em warm wiv the doors n windows open! oh n I don't think it works if you plough it in. Also they'd need less subsidies cos there's less weedin n no spraying to do n we couldn't have that!

 

Erm, probably more likely because farmers are very conservative in their approach. They tend not to experiment - it has a serious impact on their livelihood. Also, it doesn't actually decrease weeding and spraying as if you make the ground more fertile, weeds grow better!

 

It is a bit tricky to do too - you have to apply at the right time, in the right condition to promote germination of the seeds; drilling is different (yes, he is very good with a rake, but a tractor doesn't quite work the same).

 

For what it's worth, I am hoping to do something similar, but I am not dependent on the success/failure of the experiment for my livelihood. It's 4.75 acres of grade 2 arable, normally growing a 3yr rotation of winter wheat/winter wheat/rape and I am looking at the options for green manuring between/during crops and I want to add as much chip as I can, but this probably means hand application after the wheat comes through, which means the layer won't be thick. It won't be quite the same - the field will still be ploughed, but over time I hope that the plough depth builds up to a high organic content to improve fertility and yield. I also want to drop the rape and plant something else higher value at this point.

 

Alec

[Scott Farmborough]

Great vid that!...really opened my eyes to the ideas about Woodchip!

Could of watched it in half the time if it wasn't for the bible bits......😴

[gensetsteve]

I think it works well in a garden especially if you gently ease away the chip to find the compost but may be difficult in a 200 hp john deere

[Woodworks]

Can someone give a quick summary of how the woodchip is used in the garden in the video. Our internet seems incapable of showing it.

[gensetsteve]

It was 1hr 40 mins about an hour of that was religion. But basically he puts down layers of woodchip as the years go by the stuff underneath composts. The fresh stuff on top suppresses weeds. The whole effort is rich in nutrients and retains moisture. weeding is easy as they pull up easily. Dont rotovate it. It copies what happens naturally in a forrest. Looked good for the garden

[Woodworks]

Thanks Steve. Does he let the chip rot before applying it to the garden?

[MattyF]

Mine used to get mixed in with cow sheds dung and slurry on road side clamps then spread on the fields, .. Also put in gate ways to milking sheds to stop roads getting muddy and used on the farms tree planting or even used at music festivals they held to keep mud at bay on wet years.. Mind you I did give it to the farm and I doubt they would of paid for it but it beat renting a place and buying a tele handler to push it up and we got to burn raking ups and hedge clippings on there fire site in return as well.

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[gensetsteve]

Thanks Steve. Does he let the chip rot before applying it to the garden?

 

No but I see people just starting out had problems I think you need a good base of compost then the following years fresh chip is ok as the levels underneath are doing the growing. It looked good and made sense.

[Woodworks]

No but I see people just starting out had problems I think you need a good base of compost then the following years fresh chip is ok as the levels underneath are doing the growing. It looked good and made sense.

 

Thanks again.

 

Think we might try a sample patch and see how we get on. Have been looking for a use for all the processor chip.

[Lucan]

Only watched a bit of the video but I wouldn't recommend adding pure woodchips to soil.

 

One of the keys to good soil is balancing the Carbon:Nitrogen (C:N) ratio (C = the bulky structure/humus, N = nutrients and energy), leafy plants and grasses have a C:N ratio of around 30:1 which is roughly what you're looking for. Woody materials such as woodchip and bark have a C:N ratio of around 250:1. Therefor when you add such low nutrient materials to the soil the soil itself has to use up its own energy (in the form of N) to break the chip down, resulting in an immediate loss of nutrients (that some studies have shown can last up to 10yrs before a net gain is achieved).

 

You can add woodchip to soil but it must be first mixed with at least equal parts of high Nitrogen material and be fully broken down first.