My plants do great in deep natural mulch tree trimmers.
I never worry or even think about pH. The microbiome that's developing under/in all that mulch handled its own business. I just add mulch and chop-and-drop "compost" plants right there where my plants grow.
I'm building towards perennial systems but plants tons of annuals in this method.
But wood chips are acidic! Kidding aside, the decomposition of the wood chips will provide all the nourishment and minerals to produce healthy and hardy produce. Before I used wood chips I bought Glacial dust to mix in with the soil. With the wood chips it wasn't needed. I produced more than my family could eat. The problem with northern gardens is that when the harvest comes in, you better be prepared to either it eat or preserve it. Too many times I ended up giving away veggies to the neighbors. That's fine for doing that once or twice, but as they say, there is no free lunch.
Depends on your soil composition and pH. My soil is very alkali. I use pine shavings (and pine needles) among other things when preparing a garden bed.
Bricks of pine shavings are about $5 bucks (for hamsters, rabbits, etc.) Tractor supply.
It is indeed very good for evergreens and certain scrubs but for other plants not so much.
My plants do great in deep natural mulch tree trimmers.
I never worry or even think about pH. The microbiome that's developing under/in all that mulch handled its own business. I just add mulch and chop-and-drop "compost" plants right there where my plants grow.
I'm building towards perennial systems but plants tons of annuals in this method.
But wood chips are acidic! Kidding aside, the decomposition of the wood chips will provide all the nourishment and minerals to produce healthy and hardy produce. Before I used wood chips I bought Glacial dust to mix in with the soil. With the wood chips it wasn't needed. I produced more than my family could eat. The problem with northern gardens is that when the harvest comes in, you better be prepared to either it eat or preserve it. Too many times I ended up giving away veggies to the neighbors. That's fine for doing that once or twice, but as they say, there is no free lunch.
Depends on your soil composition and pH. My soil is very alkali. I use pine shavings (and pine needles) among other things when preparing a garden bed.
Bricks of pine shavings are about $5 bucks (for hamsters, rabbits, etc.) Tractor supply.