"Jock" wrote in message
Also, the newly chipped mulch nicks all the nitrogen from your soil.


This is true.
The mulch with take nitrogen to help break down, however- the rate of
decomposition depends on the surface area of the mulch.
Because the micro-organisims work from the outside in, the more surface area
there is, the quicker it breaks down (and you may notice a nitrogen
deficency). This is why you don't use fresh sawdust on gardens (composted
sawdust is fine to use), with such a large surface area it breaks down so
fast it will draw out all avalible nitrogen causeing a deficency.
With woodchip the rate of decomposition is much slower (because it has a
smaller relative surface area because of the larger chips) and most likley
not present you with any problems.
You can add nitrogen (I use lawn fertilizers) but becareful as all the
nitrogen added will eventully become avalible to the plants, and it may be
at toxic levels.

Dave