Yes, during the conversion from fresh organic to compost, your cypress
shavings will search for nirtogen, but it will later release it after the
decompostion is complete. - But - As a woodworker, I don't no of any wood as
resistant to decomposition as cypress. That makes it good for mulch. It will
just stay at the surface and stare back at you for 5 or 10 years. I have
seen rain gutters made of cypress - the Floridia tree that loves to stand in
swamps. If it is true cypress, I would put an ad in the paper and sell it.
Then get ordinary wood chips from any tree care company. They are likely to
give it away free.


"bentcajungirl" wrote in message
.. .
I am planing cypress wood that I am using in my new house. (100 yo wood
salvaged from old house) I'd like to use the planer shavings as mulch. I
understand the fresh shavings extract or negate the level of nitrogen in
the soil. I may be mistaken about the correct chemical or compound, but I
do know from first hand experience that I soundly killed a perfectly good
flower bed a few years back using fresh shavings. I was told to augment
with some nitrogen bearing agent or use fish meal, etc.
Am I on the right track...what is the ratio of nitrogen to how much mulch?
Thanks.
Perry
bentcajungirl