Chipped Eucalyptus Wood and Leaves from Tree Trimmers

Contrary to public opinion, there is absolutely nothing wrong with using the contents of tree-trimmers chippers as mulch, even if the source is eucalyptus. All wood eventually rots and becomes part of the soil. Eucalyptus chippings make an excellent and low cost mulch. Not only does it often come free of charge, but also it is clean. It contains no weed seeds and it is highly unlikely to contain pesticides or herbicides which may not be true of mulch from other sources. Many folks suppose that eucalyptus wood or leaves will kill plants, but this is entirely untrue. The only time when wood chips or chopped leaves of any species, including eucalyptus, can kill plants is when folks unthinkingly dig these raw un-rotted materials into the ground. This practice can turn plant leaves yellow and may kill them because un-rotted wood will rob soil of nitrogen in order to rot and thus also rob nitrogen from plants. This will happen regardless of the source of the chipped wood or leaves. If you do not dig the chips into the ground but just let them lie on top as mulch, no harm is done. So definitely do not remove the mulch. Next fall you can put a layer of manure right on top as described below under clay soil. Just don’t dig it into the ground.

The only wood products that can be used safely as soil amendment, in other words dug into the ground, are products that have been fully nitrolized (i.e.: enough nitrogen has been added to them so they can rot) or, alternatively, they have been fully composted, which means largely rotted. So the answer to your question is that your trees will be fine with raw chipped eucalyptus wood and leafy products on top of the ground as mulch where they will slowly decompose and add goodness to the soil. Meanwhile, this eucalyptus mulch will greatly reduce the growth of weeds and help to hold moisture in the ground. (See page 29 In my new organic book for the exact amounts of nitrogen to add to raw shavings to make them safe.) No addiltional nitrogen needs to be added when using the chips only as mulch.

Related Articles:

  1. Vegetables in Raised Beds: Problems with Yellow Leaves
  2. Vegetables, Eucalyptus, Clay Soil, and Fruit Trees
  3. Do Not Dig Chipper Materials into the Ground
  4. Fruit Tree Nutrients
  5. Yellow Leaves Falling off Honeysuckle, Citrus, and Other Plants

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