Wood mulch in no till raised veggie bed? - Ask Extension
I grow veggies in raised beds, no till, adding compost from my home system every year and letting it break down naturally. One raised bed has annuals,...
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Wood mulch in no till raised veggie bed? #872585
Asked June 11, 2024, 11:12 AM EDT
I grow veggies in raised beds, no till, adding compost from my home system every year and letting it break down naturally. One raised bed has annuals, usually tomatoes, lettuce, herbs, cucumbers, and broccoli. A second raised bed has perennial plants: rhubarb, asparagus, and strawberries.
I've used landscape fabric before for weed and moisture control, and I'd like to switch to wood mulch instead. I'm thinking I could lightly rake remaining larger pieces of mulch back at the end of the season without disturbing the soil much, add compost, and then recover with mulch. My wood mulch of choice is usually cedar- would that be a good choice for the system I'm describing? Am I missing any potential cons?
Ramsey County Minnesota
Expert Response
Hi Liz,
I think the wood chips idea is just fine. Cedar is a good choice because it does deter some insects and is slower to decompose. However, I think leaf mulch is the best. It Helps build your soil as it decomposes, it's free and it's how the soil builds it's humus layer naturally.
But, if you want to do cedar that's fine too, especially on the perennial bed, a light coat, maybe one inch thick. Just remember to remove it in the fall.
Sally Granath
St. Louis County MG