Base material in garden planters, can I use old gambel wood in base before adding mulched material - Ask Extension
Is gambel oak and gambel oak mulch ok to use in vegetable raised bed garden
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Base material in garden planters, can I use old gambel wood in base before adding mulched material #866756
Asked May 02, 2024, 11:31 AM EDT
Is gambel oak and gambel oak mulch ok to use in vegetable raised bed garden
El Paso County Colorado
Expert Response
Hello,
I am a little unclear as to how you are using the gambel oak mulch. If I understand correctly, you want to put down a layer of gambel oak mulch, and then add your regular soil? This would be okay, as long as you add a deep enough layer of soil on top (don't mix the layers up, because the woody material ties up nitrogen as it breaks down), so the roots aren't getting into the mulch layer. You will also need to top off the soil once the woody material breaks down a bit.
I would advise against using woody material as mulch in a vegetable garden, however, because it will break down slowly, and will be hard to plant new plants the following year.
I am a little unclear as to how you are using the gambel oak mulch. If I understand correctly, you want to put down a layer of gambel oak mulch, and then add your regular soil? This would be okay, as long as you add a deep enough layer of soil on top (don't mix the layers up, because the woody material ties up nitrogen as it breaks down), so the roots aren't getting into the mulch layer. You will also need to top off the soil once the woody material breaks down a bit.
I would advise against using woody material as mulch in a vegetable garden, however, because it will break down slowly, and will be hard to plant new plants the following year.
