My wood chip

Benefits:

• Nitrogen source
• Water retention
• Increased biological activity
• Maintains soil temperature during extreme weather
• Increased fibrous root growth

Wood chip has been scientifically proven to increase the root function of trees and shrubs by increasing Mycorrhizae in the soil. Mycorrhizae is a fungi which has a symbiotic relationship with roots, roots pass on essential sugars and other compounds to the Mycorrhizae and the Mycorrhizae assists in the uptake of water and essential minerals to the roots.  Mycorrhiza is currently being researched as it increases the carbon content in the soil and may reduce carbon in our atmosphere.

We use a 5inch wood chipper. This is important for two reasons,

 1) It has a very fuel efficient 4 stroke v twin Honda engine.

2) We chip only the extremities of the tree. (Every thing else is processed as fire wood a carbon neutral product) The extremities are a place where meristematic regions are located (Buds). This is a location of sugars and starch which when chipped and processed through natural decomposition has a high nitrogen content which is readily available to the tree.

We use our wood chip in two ways

• New plantings, We use the wood chip which has decomposed at our facility at Rossendale for mulching our new plantings this is a source of nitrogen for the young tree as well as all the other benefits of wood chip.

• Chip on site this makes total sense when we prune to improve the trees structure and form why not let us mulch the tree with its own wood chip. The wood chip will decompose in situ improving the quality and diversity of the soil. Diversity in the soil means you do not have a dominant organism such as pathogenic nematodes or fungi they all compete against each other in balance allowing the tree to benefit.

I recently had the great pleasure of attending a Tree Care Industry Association seminar which showed Mycorrhizae hypha competing with a pathogenic nematode, and they discussed research in soil as a carbon sink when you increase Mycorrhizae. You can see this is a massive subject I hope I have kindled your interest as it has mine and please take advantage of this great resource we offer you.

Steven Gallagher ISA Cert Arb.