AboutGreg Expertise As a Master Gardener: taken classes in All Phases of Gardening...I Specialize in Lawns... Pererennials... Compost... Organic Gardening.
Question I have approximately 15,000 sq. ft of potential lawn area that is currently covered with 6 to 8 inches of wood chips. These chips are comprised mostly of oak and were chipped through a standard arborists tree chipper. Is there a way that I can, with relative ease, compost these chips and then in a few years turn this space into a viable planting bed? Can I add an organic liquid or granual to the environment and/ or rototill them to further encourage the breakdown of this material?
Thanks
Answer Hello Geff
15,000 sq ft 6-8" is a LOT of Wood Chips
I will try and answer this question the best I can.
Yes you can Compost this, and No its not going to be easy. Wood is a Carbon product, and the Decomposition is going to take a long time. With this much product its going to be very difficult to move around and do the things you need to do, without heavy equipment at your Disposal. You mentioned a time frame of about a "Few Years" I don't think thats a reasonable time frame. This amount of Wood Chips would be better served as a Mulch in my Humble Opinion.
Now with all of this in mind, I still would be happy to advise you to the best way of getting all of this to Decompose for you.
Think about what I have just said, if this suits you, Great, if not, please do not hesitate to follow back up with me, and I will give you a step by step detail on how to do this.
