Any ideas of what to do with this spot. It's really thick wood chips and green. How long will it take to rot down? What can I do to help it along? It probably would be a great place to start composting, but its right off my deck. Tree that was taken down yesterday. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden ) moderator's note: added a more descriptive title to topic Chipped stump. ( photo / image / picture from Donna S's Garden )
It will take several years to deteriorate. I usually make raised beds out of the chips. The first time I moved chips from ground stumps(15) The pile still sits in the woods(10 years) After that I made raised beds(3) from 10 trees they are still there. All are oak trees, I do not know the rate of decay for anything but oak trees. the original pile in the woods is down by three quarters. Jerry
A generous amount of a high nitrogen fertilizer, say, 49-0-0. Cover with at least an inch of soil. The N in the fert and the Carbon from the wood will feed a ginormous number of bacteria that will break the wood down to its molecular components. Hence the soil, that will keep the N from volitizing and will be handy as fill when the wood is decomposed.
