[GrowinGrowinGone]

Hi folks,


I have had my chippings down for approx 12 months now, I put them between 6-8 inches deep, the chippings had been piled up for about 4 months before that.  I have the top half of my plot covered in chippings and the paths also.  Today I decided to have a little poke around and see what's going on underneath, and I was rather happy to find that about 3/4 inches down it is black "soil" and it has decomposed pretty well.   I do have a pile about 6 feet high that I have in the corner of the plot, I only moved the first few inches away and that looks like black soil now too.  I mulched all my fruit trees with the chippings last autumn too, not watered them once since, and the fruit off them is fantastic and the trees look great.  I also put it around my blackberries but they have done awful this year, so maybe it's not that great for everything? 

I would be interested to see what other peoples experiences, good or bad, have been using this method, thanks. 

[BobE]

Your very lucky to have so many.

[GrowinGrowinGone]

Yes very lucky indeed, BobE.  I don't know if it's the council, or some private contractors, but we seem to get mountains of it dumped all the time.  Speaking to plot holders at other sites around my town, they say it's like rocking horse poo to try and get hold of any, and when they ask the council for any, they say yes, but they never get any.  I have never seen it being dumped at our site to see who delivers it, it just keeps appearing  .

[BobE]

Yes very lucky indeed, BobE.  I don't know if it's the council, or some private contractors, but we seem to get mountains of it dumped all the time.  Speaking to plot holders at other sites around my town, they say it's like rocking horse poo to try and get hold of any, and when they ask the council for any, they say yes, but they never get any.  I have never seen it being dumped at our site to see who delivers it, it just keeps appearing  .

Then mulch it up for this winter.  A pile at the end of your plot is worth it.  Will give you a good start next year.

[allotmentann]

I can only echo Bob, I would chuck them down everywhere if I could, but can't afford to buy in any great quantity. We only get a couple of deliveries a year to the allotment and I think the other allotmenteers would not be happy if I pinched them all to cover my plot six inches deep!  However, I can certainly say that where I have used them a lot in my garden, the soil has definitely improved. 

[Sparkyrog]

Get's them for free

[BobE]

Get's them for free

<<<<Envy and hatred mixed together.   

[Sparkyrog]

Get's them for free

<<<<Envy and hatred mixed together.   

I get my own and have loads of contacts in the trade looking to lose them 

[BobE]

Ok, no need to rub it in.  :happy:

[Sparkyrog]

Ok, no need to rub it in.  :happy:
[/quo
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Try a few local phone calls to a lot of people it cost's to get rid 

[BobE]

Ok Sparky, I will.

[Sparkyrog]

You need to remember that to most people it is a waste product they need to get rid of , and they don 't have the storage so it cost's 

[BobE]

I'll phone my winter logs supplier.  He does gardens in the summer, logs in the winter.  I'll let you know.

[GrowinGrowinGone]

1 person told me they have rang about to try and get some, but these tree service companies sell it to the power companies for bio fuel now.  But not all companies can be doing this I spose, so always worth calling like mentioned     
 
Nobody else on my plot site has done the BTE method, I have told them about the movie and why I have covered half my plot in wood chips, but they just look at me like i've lost my mind 

[Sparkyrog]

I have not gone down the back to eden root yet <but when the friend I asked about chippings answered he asked if I wanted 8 tons