DATE:    12/24/98 
WRITERS: Bob Polomski, Extension consumer horticulturist,
         (864) 656-2604
         Don Ham, Extension forester, (864) 656-2480
EDITOR:  Giles Singleton, (864) 656-3876

Using Christmas Tree Mulch

     Q: My city is having a "Grinding of the Greens" programs
where wreaths and Christmas trees are ground up and "recycled"
into mulch. I would like to participate by using the mulch around
my azaleas and other plants in my landscapes, but I'm concerned
about harming my plants. Is this mulch okay for my plants? Should
I compost it first before using it?
     A. When applied to the soil surface in a two- to three-inch
layer, this pine mulch will not have to be composted. 
     The mulch will help conserve moisture, suppress weeds, and
supply nutrients as it decomposes. You can also use the mulch in
animal pens or garden paths, and along fence rows to suppress
weeds. However, if you mixed this fresh or "green" mulch into the
soil, then you'd run the risk of causing a nitrogen deficiency in
your plants. Because pine mulch contains a lot of carbon and
little nitrogen, the microorganisms responsible for breaking down
the mulch will have to draw upon nitrogen that's already present
in the soil, leaving less available for your plants.
Nitrogen-deficient plants look stunted and their oldest leaves
turn yellow.
     If you need to put green mulch directly into the soil, 
it would be a good idea to add a nitrogen-containing fertilizer.
The general recommendation is to apply one pound of actual
nitrogen per 100 pounds of dry wood or bark fragments. For
example, add ten pounds of a 10-10-10 fertilizer to supply one
pound of actual nitrogen to a 100 pound pile of mulch. 
     Try to apply the mulch as least six to 12 inches beyond the
branch spread of your shrubs and trees. Because the root system
can extend two to three times farther than the branches of a
plant, mulch as large an area as possible.
     Once the mulch is in place, pull back the mulch two to three
inches away from the main trunk to keep the stem or bark dry. 
For annuals and perennials, apply a mulch layer one to two inches
thick.
                   *************************
     If you have questions or comments on gardening-related
issues, write to PSA News & Publications, Box 340311, A-101 Poole
Ag Center, Clemson University, Clemson, S.C. 29634-0311. You
might also want to check out other "Buds and Blooms" columns
under News Releases at: http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/agcomm/ 
                              END