Hi,
So I have access to woodchips (stem, branch, leaf) from a local tree service. Mixed types possibly some black wattle in it (nitrogen fixer). I want to spread this out 5 inches thick on top of my paddock to start a large no til garden. I’d love to plant in that area in a couple of months in spring. Pumpkins, sweet potato, potato, melons.
I want to add something to the woodchip so that’s it breaks down a bit faster (as it’s mixed, I could end up with very little green matter in it if I’m unlucky) and so that it ends up being a good amendment. I’m in Australia , low phosphate soils, it’s slightly on the acidic side due to high iron content in the ground water in the gulley down from the paddock. I’m thinking cow manure, or blood meal (or both?) the manure partly because the pumpkins will send down those little roots along the stem and if it’s straight onto raw woodchip that might not be great. The blood meal as a nitrogen boost to speed up the process. Generally quite dry here.
Any thoughts? Thank you!
