I'm curious about the pros and cons of using wood chips or mulch in my garden beds after I've planted seeds and sprouts. What do you all think? I want to ensure that I'm making the best choice for my plants' growth.
2 Answers
I used wood chips in the past, but now I prefer straw. Last year, I mulched too soon, and my plants kinda stalled out because the soil was still cold. I also had a slug explosion. This time I’m waiting for the warmer weather before mulching. I'd avoid covering freshly sown seeds with wood chips since it doesn't seem like a good combo.
I personally steer clear of wood chips in my growing spaces. They can attract slugs and take a long time to break down, which means they can rob the soil of nitrogen if you add compost on top of them later. I find that for annual plants, nitrogen-rich mulches like grass clippings are better since they promote the kind of bacteria the plants prefer. Wood chips are great for perennials, though!
Yeah, I totally agree! Wood chips do take forever to decompose, so I think they're fine for perennials but risky if you're planting seeds directly.