[mike86]

Its a simple question so I won't bore you all with the details... So
Can I use wood chip to mulch around my veg to help control weeds.?


( its not that I'm being lazy, I've just moved house to the far side of town . about 5miles from the plot, so can't make it down regularly to keep up with the weeding) hav'nt been down for nearly a month, so this weekend is going to be hard work   

[Springlands]

You could but it is not really a good idea - it will harbour slugs especially during wet weather, and as the wood chips break down they use up some of the goodness in your soil. You would probably be better using compost, well rotted manure or a weed control fabric and put some organic slug pellets under it to help keep the slugs under control.

[nobby]

I use a thick layer of wood chip around peas and beans as they dont mind the loss of nitrates and its great for holding in the moisture

[Stree]

Nobby and springlands are right, woodchippings rob the soil of nitrogen, but beans produce nitrogen in the soil anyway, as do some other crops, but only a few do this.

[mike86]

That's a shame, I was planning on popping some around my onions,garlic and shallots in the raised beds, not to worry. I'll just have to deal with the weeding. All part of the fun tho I suppose :-)

[angelavdavis]

You could mulch with wetted sheets of newspaper and top with compost or grass clippings to suppress the weeds.

[moose]

This is an interesting article about wood chips:-  http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/Wood Chips in Vegetable Production.pdf

[Eightball]

From what I understand any Nitrogen loss is pretty negligible if the woodchips are just on the surface and aren't tilled into the soil. You could also add some fertiliser high in nitrogen to offset the short term tieup I should think. If you can't get to the site that often I would mulch with something though to help keep those weeds at bay and to conserve moisture.

[allotmentann]

This is an interesting article about wood chips:-  http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/Wood Chips in Vegetable Production.pdf

Moose, that is one of many articles that I have found myself in the past. Most proper research that I have found has come to the same conclusion. I happily mulch with woodchips. I have done so in my gardens for years and have only ever found them to be a good thing. I use as many on the plot as I  can get my hands on.

[mike86]

So around the base of onions and garlic should be OK? Its getting to the tough decision of whether to keep my plot or give it up, it would be a shame to loose it, its my little haven

[allotmentann]

I have woodchips on my borders at home and the chives (also part of the Allium family) are flourishing. There are also woodchips used as mulch around the raspberry bushes and apple trees. Garlic and chives grow beneath the trees and they too seem to be very happy.
If something makes it easier to maintain your plot, especially without having to resort to chemicals, it has to be worth a try. More so, if it is the difference between keeping the plot or giving it up. Before taking that path, have a long hard think about your plot, there are lots of things that can make a plot easier to manage. I make sure that all non-growing parts of my plot are very well covered with at least three layers of weed control fabric and plastic, plus woodchips. This means that I do not have to spend ages maintaining those areas and can spend all the time I have there on the important stuff. Keeping unused beds either covered or sowing green manure means they are not growing a new crop of weeds for you. Growing crops that require less attention can also help. If you are really struggling and don't want to give up the plot, grow more fruit.
I hope that you can work round your lack of time and keep your plot.