MYTH:  FRESH WOOD CHIPS USED AS A MULCH LEACH NITROGEN FROM THE SOIL    

MYTH BUSTERS SERIES

THE FACTS

SAY YES TO THE CHIPS!

FRESH wood chips, when used as a MULCH, do NOT leach nitrogen from the soil.

In areas where TREES and SHRUBS are a dominant feature of the landscape, arborist wood chips have been cited as superior mulches for enhanced plant productivity and represent one of the BEST MULCH CHOICES.

So go ahead and say YES to the local arborist looking to unload wood chips for FREE!

• Wood chips are composed of bark, wood, and leaves chipped into different sizes. This diverse mixture provides a hearty supply of nutrients.
• Wood chips provide incredible WEED CONTROL in ornamental landscapes.
• Woody mulches do NOT acidify soils and are the LEAST flammable of the organic mulches.

*Wood chips should be placed only on the SOIL SURFACE of trees and shrubs (not tender annuals or vegetables). If fresh wood chips are tilled into the soil, nitrogen could become tied up during the decomposition process, making the nitrogen inaccessible to plants. 

Source:
Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott
https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf