Q.I had a rowan tree removed. The ground is covered in wood chips.
I would like to grow rose bushes in the area where tree was; woodchips are about a foot deep. Would I have to remove the woodchips and replace with earth? I was also thinking about putting bushes into large tubs and burying tubs in the area.
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Yes, you will want to replace fresh woodchips with soil or plant in a different area. They have an extremely high carbon to nitrogen ratio which will render the area unsuitable for plants to grow. All wood chips should be seasoned before using, OR if you are just using this as a VERY thin top layer, then it can work. You will notice that even grass will have a hard time growing in that area, which will let you know that the area is currently unsuitable for planting. After a year or so, you may start to see growth come out of the now semi-composted chips.
