[vanessa.xx]

I got lots of wood chippings for my pathways and have a about a black bags worth left over, can I use this as a mulch for my squash? or if not what would be better?

[allotmentann]

I happily use wood chippings as mulch for anything and everything, but a lot of people don't like the idea, saying that they rob nitrogen from the soil. I have read as much as I can find on the subject and don't believe this to be true. They will help retain moisture around your squash and may help to deter slugs. They will not add much nutrition to the soil though like some other mulches. If I was using it, I would probably mulch with some good homemade compost and put the woodchippings on top of that.

[JayG]

Wood chippings are high in carbon but low in nitrogen so have to "borrow" nitrogen from the soil to feed the organisms which cause them to rot down. This doesn't apply when used as a mulch though (they can't "suck" nitrogen from the soil if they are lying on top of it!)

[Trillium]

I love wood chippings for mulch but first I add a thin layer of composted manure which tops up the nitrogen supply that the wood chips might use, and I've not had problems. I found that if I add a thin layer of composted manure, then some sheets of newspaper or thin cardboard on top, and then the mulch that the results were even better at stopping weeds.