Table of Contents
Speed Up Decomposition of Chipped Bark & Wood
Chipped bark and wood come with a slow rate of natural decomposition which, based on size, can take several months. Because they are small, wood chips decompose faster compared to whole logs.
Nitrogen is a key ingredient in the process. Fungi and bacteria use it to break wood down to it’s composite ingredients.
“When you maintain a good balance of carbon (the wood chips) and nitrogen (coffee grounds and lawn clippings) the pile heats up, hence breaks down the wood chips into compost faster.” comment rubbish professionals.
Boost the Decomposition Rate of Chipped Bark & Wood From Old Trees
Make Sure You Have
NPK granular fertilizer
Organic Greens
Shovel
Pitchfork
Rake
Step 1: Use a rake and gather wood and bark chips in a pile
Position your pile so it gets full sun or in direct sunlight at least six hours a day. Make a new pile different from the regular compost.
Step 2: Mix approximately equal parts of organic green materials
You can use vegetable and fruit scraps, coffee grounds, and/or animal manure. To achieve fast decomposition, cut and chop the materials into small pieces.
Step 3: Use one or two handfuls of NPK granular fertilizer and spread it evenly over the pile
For bigger piles use two handfuls. NPK or 10-10-10 fertilizers have equal amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium - 10% of each element. If you want to be 100% organic, substitute with urine or fresh chicken manure - both are a good source of nitrogen.
Step 4: Moisten the pile to speed the decomposition process
This helps the fertilizer soak & dissolve the wood chips.
Step 5: Make sure it’s homogenic
Mix the materials in a container or pile with similar length, width, and height so the center of the mixture heats up well. Aim for a size of 3 to 5 cubic feet - it works well in most cases.
Step 6: Mix once in a while
After you create the compost pile, mix it every two weeks.
Turn the materials from the center to the outside of the pile and vice versa. In as little as three months the wood chips and green materials decompose into finished compost. Wood chips compost faster in the summer because the center of the pile gets hot.
Avoid turning the pile during the cold winter months. The heat will escape and the decomposition will get significantly slower.
What Size Wood Chips Have A Fast Decomposition Rate?
Get wood chips that are as small as possible if you want them to decompose quickly. Smaller chips from trimmed overgrown bushes or tiny branches in your backyard will decompose faster.
Have in mind that wood chips that are 6-7 inches or bigger will take much longer to turn into compost. It’s better to use them for kindling, or for a barbecue, or to smoke meat.
Balance Nitrogen and Carbon for The Optimal Wood Chip Decomposition
According to zero-waste expert Antonia, the balance of greens and browns is essential to achieve a fast breakdown of your wood chips.
Browns are organic materials, rich in carbon, like wood, fall leaves, dried grass, and paper. Greens such as freshly cut grass, most kitchen scraps, and herbivore manure - contain lots of nitrogen. (3)
Make sure you have the right ratio of carbon and nitrogen-rich materials. If you have nothing but wood chips in your compost pile, this will delay the breakdown process. Add “fuel” to the mixture with lots of greens to heat up the process and speed it up. (4)
The materials decompose faster when your compost pile gets hotter.
Best Part of The Year to Start Your Wood Chip Compost
The most favorable conditions for decomposition are moisture and heat. This also applies to your woodpile.
Start a wood compost pile at any time of the year. If you aim for the fastest results, have your chips delivered and ready by late winter or early spring. This way you get a “window” of 3 to 8 months of warmer weather which will help speed up the process.
Make a mound of your fresh wood chips and always keep it moist. If you leave it to dry out, decomposition will slow down. Water it down just like your garden.
Remember to turn the wood chips every now and again. Let’s say, two weeks should suffice. This way you speed up the decomposition and make it more uniform through the pile.
Do All Woods Compost The Same Way?
Not all woods are equal. Some have rot-resisting properties, hence they are suitable for construction. If you have one of these in your pile of chips, pick them out. They deteriorate significantly slower. Some woods, like Cedar, can “cripple” the breakdown process by blocking helpful insects.
It is common to see these kinds of woods in sawmills and lumberyards and you might have chips from them in your pile. Some of them are:
Oak
American Mahogany
Osage Orange
Cypress
Redwood
Cedar
Black Walnut
If you have any of these woods in your pile, know that it will take longer to decompose.
Place the wood compost pile somewhere in your backyard where you won’t mind having it for a while longer.
Does Wood Chips Affect Soil Ph?
Wood chips have a lower pH, hence they are more acidic. But can they affect soil pH when used as mulch? There is no evidence that proves it. It is difficult to alter soil pH without the help of chemicals. Slight changes in pH might appear in the decomposing layer of the wood chips, but these have little to no effect on the underlying soil. (5)
A layer of wood chips keeps the soil moist and cool during summer. Some types of wood have natural herbicide qualities that help with weed control.
Be aware that certain wood types release tannins which are toxic for some soil organisms.
Composting Wood Chips Fast - Final Advice
After the compost pile is ready, filter out the partially decomposed chips. Add these to your future batch. Include these wood chips to your new pile of compost to help “introduce” the new mix with essential microorganisms and activate the compost.
Author: Dmitri Kara
Hello, I’m Dmitri!
Started as a jack of all trades back in early 2012, Dmitri Kara is a recognized expert in a wide range of domestic and commercial trades. Dmitri Kara has appeared on reputable outlets such as Today.com, Metro.News, Telegraph.co.uk, ReadersDigest.com, Quote.com, Reviews.com, Plus.net, IkeaHackers.net, and many more. You can get in touch at https://twitter.com/@dmitrikara.