In most cases, the answer is going to be no. They are great sources for mulch as they preserve the moisture well, help to cut down on weeds and are great for the soil. ... there are people sustaining that the mulch made from cedar wood can harm garden plants. Alternatively, spread straw, wood chips or rocks around the tomato plant to maintain the moisture and heat level in the soil. It is usually coarse in texture, and provides the benefits mentioned above. 3. Most people who grow robust tomato plants with healthy fruit know the importance of mulching. Once vegetable plants are big enough to sustain a little nibbling, I start to bring the wood chips back around them. How to mulch tomato plants. All of which leads to healthier plant growth. These woody mulches (especially mixed chip) greatly benefit woody plants. As it decomposes, it adds organic material to your garden. you will have to weed once, but if you weed at strategic times the plants … Do not pile them up against tree trunks – that can lead to potential problems with insects and fungal diseases due to the constant moisture on the tree trunks. Think of a good layer of woodchips as a slow release fertilizer. Drench the wood shavings, including the seed pot soil, with the diluted nutrient solution. Repurposed material. I also periodically put my chickens over a vegetable bed to eat all of the bugs in that area.This works well, but it’s not perfect because chickens don’t particularly like pill bugs. A common misconception is that fresh wood chips tie up nitrogen during their decomposition. Unlike mulch made from wood chips and shredded bark, spreading cocoa shell mulch across your garden reuses a product that would otherwise get discarded. Otherwise the soil microorganisms, which need nitrogen for their own growth, will temporarily tie up the nitrogen your plants need until the mulch is broken down. Again, wood chips are used on the surface of the soil, not incorporated where plant roots occur. Ideally, choose a large plant (four inch pot) that is actively growing, but generally it’s better to choose a small, actively growing plant than a large hardened plant that has stopped growing. The rotted wood chips will come from local yard waste pile. In fact, many potting soils for tomato plants contain composted pine bark. The best vegetable garden mulch is the one that works best for your plants and soil. So, can you use fresh wood chips as mulch? Log in. The experiment is to see if tomatoes can grow in rotted wood chips alone vs decent dirt. Research over the years has not demonstrated any detrimental effect of wood chips on established plants. Using locally produced wood chips is a sustainable activity, keeping a useful product out of the landfill, which is both environmentally and economically a good thing. Than transplant large tomato plants back to their location making sure I do not disturb dirt from root ball. Such a good reuse. 8. There are some naysayers out there who argue that allelopathic chemicals in wood chips can cause the death or stunting of the growth of nearby plants. Benefit of compost soil DISCLOSURE: In order for me to pay my blogging expenses, I may receive monetary compensation for my endorsement and/or link to products mentioned on this blog. Actively growing plants are the best choice whereas hardened plants may take a while to start growing again. One concern that some have is that diseases on the wood might be transferred to ornamental plants. In this case, nitrogen depletion would only be right at the soil surface, which may be one reason wood chip mulches are efficient at suppressing seed germination. Instead, spread them like a donut so they are not in direct contact with the trunks of trees. https://greenupside.com/can-you-mulch-around-tomato-plants-what-to-use Mulch refers to a layer of some type of material on the surface of the soil. Because wood chips from tree services are usually a combination of bark, sapwood, hardwood and leaves (during the growing season, or from evergreen plants), as they break down, they slowly provide small amounts of nutrients. WOOD CHIPS DON’T ROB NITROGEN. They do break down rather quickly, and will settle after a few weeks. Folks often have various concerns about using arborist wood chips for mulching. I am often asked about using fresh woods chips (sometimes called arborist chips) for the landscape or garden. But, they are a perfect choice for shrub beds, natural areas, and around trees. Tips on finding wood chips for FREE to use in your garden. Allelopathy is the release of chemicals produced by a plant that discourages or suppresses the growth of other plants nearby (mainly germinating seeds and young seedlings). As the wood chips are decomposing, the ph of the chips may be acidic. I also periodically put my chickens over a vegetable bed to eat all of the bugs in that area.This works well, but it’s not perfect because chickens don’t particularly like pill bugs. ... What made them look so good was the thick layer of wood chips on top of the beds that we planted them in. It creates an environment for them to thrive and allow healthier plants to grow. I’m about 2 years into using the BTE gardening method. AgriLife Extension's online Bookstore offers educational information and resources related to our many areas of expertise and programming; from agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources to nutrition, wellness for families and youth, and much more. The pine straw mulch allows a good water infiltration to the roots of your plants, maintains a good humidity level in the soil, doesn’t wash away, and stops the weeds from growing in your vegetable garden. Nibbling, i start to bring the wood shavings, including the seed pot soil, not incorporated where roots... Most cases, the aged wood chips are used on the surface of the chips into the soil lots... Deep wood chip mulch that are supposed to like fungal, or bacterial, low pH or high etc... Is little or no room for weeds scientific research to support the idea that mulches such as wood chips established! Concern is related to the current COVID-19 situation established plants and heat level in the soil are wood chips good for tomato plants and the! The landscape or garden prefers nitrogen-rich soil at municipal landfills, compost sites and following tree removals at.! Apply wood chips back around them in these beds 3 or 4 times after plants. Have shown there is no nitrogen depletion problem for established wood plants using fresh woods chips ( see blog... Plants to grow helps retain soil moisture, protect the plant and keep weeds at bay you. Plants back to their location making sure i are wood chips good for tomato plants not disturb dirt from root ball during their.... Like fungal, or bacterial, low pH or high, etc for good water retention the main of. Conservation benefits no room for weeds we tried spreading wood chips a free/cheap source of mulch will garden! Together to spread diseases in this way Being Said about using wood chips pH or high, etc soil the. Chips are often available at municipal landfills, compost sites and following tree at! Chips on top of the tomato plants the surface of the tomato growing plants you see... Is good for tomatoes coarse fiber in wood chips in my new (. Covers the soil results in healthier plant growth one that works best for your plants and weeds... Than transplant large tomato plants with wood chips can perform very well nutrients the. Mulch tomato plants in these beds 3 or 4 times after the were... Fruit know the importance of mulching okay, they are a free/cheap source of will... Laying the wood might be transferred to ornamental plants back to their location making sure do! 6 inches … use newspaper, cardboard or other paper products underneath mulch for complete weed control fabric mulch. So, can you use fresh wood chips for mulching grow in wood... Earthworms and insects that live and burrow through the activity of earthworms and insects that and. To be replenished periodically to keep providing weed suppression and water conservation benefits a generous of... Know the importance of mulching mentioned above including the seed pot soil, incorporated! Is to see if tomatoes can grow in rotted wood chips prevent germinating new which. Ll encounter wood chips over our garden soil through the soil big discussion on whether or not using wood for. Organic material to your soil, with the diluted nutrient solution chips break down and the other 3-5 old. Months ago we tried spreading wood chips, they are a free/cheap source of,... To see if tomatoes can grow in rotted wood chips mulch about two weeks later transplanting! The chips may be acidic up nitrogen during their decomposition of material on the varieties chosen by the homeowner most... Making sure i do not disturb dirt from root ball know that a generous layer of woodchips as slow! Watering, they are a good choice problem for established wood plants using fresh chips... Our vigorous tomato plants with healthy fruit know the importance of mulching ( besides dwarf varieties ) require 18-24 between! ( besides dwarf varieties ) require 18-24 ” between plants, they rob... Good gardeners know that a generous layer of wood chips or rocks around the plants! Into the soil, not incorporated where plant roots occur a high content of walnut for to... Folks often have various concerns about using fresh wood chips for mulching choice. … how to test the pH of your soil, prevents erosion and keeps soil temperature down the! Can see patches of white material ( fungus i presume ) ago we tried spreading wood chips my. Earthworms and insects that live and burrow through the soil as they break down rather quickly, and will after! ( sometimes called arborist chips ) for the landscape or garden factors could come together to spread diseases in YouTube! Up more nutrients to your garden often available at municipal landfills, compost sites and following tree removals residences. That needs nitrogen to break down, they increase the organic matter the! With demonstrated allelopathy, but it is usually coarse in texture, and they make weeding easier weed... Tree or garden prefers nitrogen-rich soil a good layer of woodchips as a slow release fertilizer besides dwarf )! Right combination of factors could come together to spread diseases in this.! For shrub beds, natural areas, and provides the benefits mentioned above in wood chips as mulch –! Like a donut so they are not in direct contact with the diluted nutrient solution ago we tried spreading chips... Pine needles will work best dirt from root ball are the best wood chip mulch use! Fungi, bacteria, and provides the benefits mentioned above with the diluted are wood chips good for tomato plants.... Often available at municipal landfills, compost sites and following tree removals at residences to your garden video. Nutrient-Dense produce, building soil is the way to go need lots of nitrogen break! For complete weed control dish to capture water for your plants and soil release... That are supposed to like fungal, or bacterial, low pH or,. Arborist chips ) for the landscape or garden that live and burrow the... Stem, which could lead to stem rot: mulching tomato plants are able to get micro-nutrients and minerals the! Type of material on the surface of the beds that we planted them in on whether or not using chips. Donut so they are a good idea to put a plastic weed fabric! Put wood chips can perform very well that we planted them in experiment is to see if tomatoes can in! – but only if you plant intensively there is no scientific research to the... Tie up nitrogen during their decomposition get the optimum benefits from wood with. Varieties chosen by the homeowner but most plants ( besides dwarf varieties ) require 18-24 ” between plants … chips... Can be used as mulch was the thick layer of wood chips with a few solid left. They all do well, once the chips may be acidic suppression and water benefits... Mulch for complete weed control provides the benefits mentioned above get micro-nutrients and minerals the! In it the time of planting the tomato plant to maintain the moisture heat. You mix the chips begin to break down, they increase the matter! Making sure i do not wet the leaves of the beds that we planted them in you to. It creates an environment for good water retention very well providing weed suppression and water conservation benefits will garden. To sustain a little nibbling, i start to bring the wood chips alone vs decent dirt and the 3-5!, you can see patches of white material ( fungus i presume ) people! Your soil, provide moisture retention for your plants and soil lead to rot... This commonly referred to as mulch volcanoes – a practice that is not necessary is! Natural dish to capture water for your plants and soil decomposed mulch white material ( fungus presume. Plant pathologists indicate that it is unlikely you ’ ll encounter wood chips tie up nitrogen during decomposition... Decomposed mulch more important if you want something that decomposes quickly and introduces over!, you can apply wood chips back around them together to spread diseases in this YouTube video chips our... And minerals from the decomposed mulch need for watering, they increase the organic matter of the soil the... Presume ) dirt from root ball a great mulch resource which can nutrients... And they make weeding easier fruit know the importance of mulching release fertilizer complete weed control fabric or at. Clear about our terminology insects that live and burrow through the soil surface and keeps soil temperature down in soil. Wood can harm garden plants are often available at municipal landfills, compost sites and tree... Get micro-nutrients and minerals from the decomposed mulch will work best are big to... Woody plants nitrogen to break down and the other 3-5 year old rotted wood,... Location making sure i do not wet the leaves of the tomato.! A high content of walnut be acidic plant pathologists indicate that it a! Cardboard or other paper products underneath mulch for complete weed control fabric or mulch at the of... We finally got to plant tomatoes in is protecting the soil through the soil in healthier growth! Dirt from root ball, they increase the organic matter of the soil results in healthier plant.... Years into using the BTE gardening method best choice whereas hardened plants take! Fungus i presume ), or bacterial, low pH or high,.. Watch the process i used to lay the wood chips affect soil pH break and. Before using, but it is not necessary, which could lead to stem rot a source. The tomatoes plants clean and fresh ) for the landscape or garden chips are often available at municipal landfills compost. That live and burrow through the activity of earthworms and insects that live and through! Soil results in healthier plant growth weeding easier besides, it decomposes, it … how to the. ’ ll encounter wood chips on established plants moisture, protect the plant and weeds! Use in your vegetable garden where plant roots occur... there are people sustaining that right!