Rhody woodchip negative environment effects?

[mattyboy]

I am doing some cutting of rhody in conifer woodland. The client I am doing it for thinks that if we chip onto the woodland floor it will have a negative environmental effect as nasty things will leach out.

 

Does anyone have experience with this?

[Couldyajust]

It will have a short term alleopathic effect leafy stuff in particular but it rots down in a few months & doesn't cause any long term issues.

 

Take a look at this study, page 23 onwards for for a bit more info.

http://www.wildresources.co.uk/reports/Hale&Wong.pdf

[bolthole]

It is slightly more effective as a weed supressant than some other chipped woody material, but I'm not aware of a specific problem. Seems like most of the toxins are dealt with by the subsequent decay process. Have a look at this....

 

http://www.wrap.org.uk/sites/files/wrap/rhodenendren.pdf

[mattyboy]

Great thanks for the links guys.

 

The second one is very clear that after 80 days the levels of grayanotoxins are undetectable

 

Should mean I can chip and spread on site, makes life easier!

[aspenarb]

We have mulched Rhody on sites before now and the lads doing the planting have followed along behind us planting through the mulch. It all took so I can only assume its ok.

 

Bob