This is Why I'm NOT Gardening with WOOD CHIPS this Year

[@Master.blaster1212]

As a person who’s gardened with wood chips and leaf mold for years, I can say that it’s truly amazing this information is provided in a 10 min video and for FREE. What a gift! Well done, Sir!

[@aprilm9551]

I like that he purchased a compost for the vegetables that was made from mushrooms (fungus) broken down by bacteria! : )

[@gsdbellaoneone9325]

I LOVE the way you've unravelled this soil information - the difference between fungal and bacteria soils. You make soil facinating - Thank you!

[@nataliesmith6208]

My thoughts the same, now I know before I go further. I've already researched what are considered perennial foods or plants and the annual foods or plants, this way I can determine what I should be planting more into the wood chips fungi soil and more into bacteria enriched soil.

[@guynorth3277]

Soil is fascinating, so is water. People really don't know how to water, a little bit at a time.

[@RoSario-vb8ge]

Does it make any difference, what kind of wood chips you use? Since there are heating systems for wood chips, they aren't for nothing anymore as far as I found out. Some write, just take the ones that contain leafs otherwise it will make the dirt too sour. Here I read, take the bark chips... don't know which one to use now...

[@lynnroberts3742]

@@RoSario-vb8ge The shredded style mulch works best for me. It will "stick together" and sort of seal the top while holding the moisture underneath. My first year garden at my current house (3 years ago) I used pine bark mulch... didn't work as well and takes much longer to decompose.

[@kolbywaggoner5922]

Hey James, your videos helped me as I transformed half of my yard into a food forest and orchard outside of Seattle. Thanks a lot for the great information and inspiration! My family will be getting the majority of our food in 2021 from our garden.

[@eccomasta]

Kudos on the Camera Operator always nice and chill and no fast cuts. Also great channel!)

[@roadieratonga3083]

"Teaming with Fungi, the organic growers guide to mycorrhizae" is a good book to read, to further understand the the natural union between plants and fungi. No too long not too short, helped me turn my soil around from years of neglect. Mushroom spores are floating every were, they just need a proper home to colonize =)

[@gigidi6816]

I always get something out of your videos: learn something new, watch Tuck be himself in the garden, receive words of inspiration and encouragement, beautiful images of well loved plants ...

[@NashvilleMonkey1000]

I put the decomposing wood on my pathways, and it has the exact consistency to crumble when walked on from day to day activity, and when it's ready, it can be put into areas where large pieces can't be used.

[@granden2077]

Started the woodchip method this year. Even with all the heat, the ground is retaining moisture. More summer squash and zucchini than I ever had before. Waiting on tomatoes, tomatillos and peppers which are looking great. 👍🍻

[@jamesbeasley8122]

I do not quite agree with him on the annuals. A wood chip much or hay mulch works great for most annuals. I think you want at least a 50/50 bacteria to fungi soil for most home gardeners. I do see his problem with lettuce or carrots. Ruth Stout sure did not have any problems.

[@TheTrock121]

This makes so much sense. Even Rhubarb does better if you let the old leaves break down and acidify the soil. The more you can replicate Nature, the less amendments you need.

[@stuartwertkin4977]

Good info thank you I’ve got a 30’ x 16’ x 4’ pile of wood chips that I mixed with forest leaves, check the manure, steer manure, would ash/grass clippings coffee grinds etc. started heating up and just watching the process.

[@poolman8676]

I love your enthusiasm and positivity. I placed the wood chips around the garden but I made sure that they're about three four inches from the stem. In one of your videos you also talked about the rot that can get to the plant and give it a disease. I pay attention to you. Thank you again for your awesome inspiration

[@frederikkannegaard2624]

Every time you upload a video my mind is blown by the quality and knowledge of what you are doing. If everyone knew these things the world would be in such a better state♥️

[@tko-sandbox8809]

If everyone knew and decided to take action, no matter how small, it would be a better world.

[@JoeBlack14]

This is one of your better videos. Thanks for all the great information. Your yard is probably the best garden on youtube. The health of all your plants is outstanding.

[@jamesprigioni]

Glad to hear that Joe, I'm glad you found value in the information. Thanks for the kind words my friend

[@aurora571000]

It probably helps that he is is in New Jersey “The Garden State “, but yes his methods are good. I’m down in Florida with sand and nematodes. Not the same as Maryland or Northern California where I hardened previously.

[@normanshadow1]

I turned my neighbor onto you. We're both fairly new to gardening and love it. I had one of his cucumbers at lunch. You are changing the world! Thanks from the bottom of my heart. Love to little Tuck❤

[@chloebelle2331]

Thanks to you (and Tuck 😂) I have started my very first garden. You’re the best!

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Gooo!! Tuck is the best, I just try to follow his lead

[@DocScience2]

= @@jamesprigioni = I am essentially at my first garden also. This video was very informative for me, with several ideas to keep in mind. Thankyou for making and posting this video.

[@tko-sandbox8809]

Whew! You scared me for a moment--I've already planned for mulch delivery for the new place (one more week and it's mine!) and am already hunting for fruits and berries suitable for my zone, 9b. My first thought was that you had learned something negative about lasagna/back to Eden mulching making it no longer ideal for creating gorgeous, rich soil. I LOVE your pallet raised bed--it's beautiful, serviceable (and cheap!) all in one. I've seen others on KZbin but yours is the most attractive, as well as something I believe I can replicate. Thank you for showing me (us) how to make one of our own. You've been my inspiration and why I've made certain decisions. I'm buying an older (admittedly not so pretty) house but it's on acre. It has lots of sunny areas ready to transition into a food forest and enough space to spare for raised beds for square foot gardening. Thank you for all of the inspiration you've given me. I hope some day to have a food forest to be proud of, given plenty of mulch, time, and some TLC. p.s. I love that you gave the adorable Tuck the biggest carrot without even blinking.

[@orscrub3161]

after watching your videos, i always feel like i’ve taken a speed class in gardening! thank you for sharing with us what you’ve learned! nothing better than experience! hi Mr Tuck! I’d share a carrot with you any day!! 🥰

[@melinaalarcon4763]

I don't know what i enjoy more, getting the info you share or seeing Tuk, he brings that special touch to your chanel.

[@Jenura01]

Melina Alarcon tough choice there

[@TheIntuitiveBodyFoodieNetwork]

Great content; thanks! This is my first time gardening with wood chips. Got to say, very interesting! I started my gardens with a bacteria-rich soil made from organic black earth, grass clippings, coffee grinds, worm juice, and organic compost. Six weeks later I added 6 inches of wood chips.I now have mushrooms everywhere. Knowing this, next year I'll incorporate short logs & stumps and grow honey mushrooms, woody ear mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms & oyster mushrooms.

[@jandjhirst]

Makes sense! Pure woodchips for everything (including annuals) seems like a nice simple way to start on the cheap, and it works. But already in my own garden I can tell that the woodchips just aren't delicate enough for the tender annuals. I've got a few piles of woodchips that I'm letting break down (and I'm turning them when we get rain) and hope to then use the composted woodchips on my annuals. So it can still all be done with woodchips, but I plan on using fresh ones for the perennials, and making my own compost with the old woodchips to use in my annual garden (as well as my compost from my other wastes).

[@Earthy-Artist]

Good idea, thanks.

[@CG-ng3xw]

I've had similar observations with the woodchips with the annual garden. I also started with compost this year after watching Charles Dowding and Paul's content again. Woodchips are great for what they do, and marrying the 2 styles has worked well for me too.

[@dranamarie]

The way you explain the information is so very clear and direct amd it helped me to understand why certain plants were never flourishing in my yard. Thank you for sharing your research!!

[@theylivewesleep4682]

James I appreciate your method of teaching growers of all levels how to think. Not what to think. I’ve gotten a head start on my first time garden this year and it’s thriving. Thanks for my green thumbs big bro! I live in south jersey also, be warned if I see you out and about I’m coming to grab a pic with you 😆 THANKS!!

[@nataliesmith6208]

Hey fellow South Jersian😁 this was an awesome teaching

[@theylivewesleep4682]

Natalie Smith south jersey stand up!! 😆

[@dellaangel]

How about South Philly .... can I get a "hey" I was to garden so badly but every plant I've ever grown has died. Including a huge cactus gifted to me. I'm a green jinx. I just wanna grow a salad.... lettuce, onion and tomato to start:( anyone willing to assess my yard or help me get it started right?

[@karenlatham4053]

@@dellaangel You can get soil tests online. Just Google soil test. Or search KZbin for soil test. After you do that you can amend your soil so that you can work with it. Also what you need to start with is just lettuce in the fall and spring once you grow that you'll get a little more confidence. watch a lot of KZbin videos learn about the insects learn about the viruses learn about watering. And then get out there and buy some seeds.

[@ohio_gardener]

Years ago when I set up a new garden section, I put down heavy cardboard over the entire area, then covered the cardboard with 6" to 8" of free wood chips. A year later I put the raised beds on top of the chips and filled them with my home made soil mix, installed drip irrigation on them, and then planted them. They have been doing great ever since. Periodically I add more wood chips around the beds to keep the area neat and clean, but don't use the chips in the beds.

[@dungdungfishing5732]

*Nice to meet you all. I'm from Vietnam.*

[@jamesprigioni]

Nice to meet you too my friend 😁

[@markratte]

How is the farming there ?

[@Rizik1986]

Howdy from the U.S.

[@pipellis6672]

...and WELCOME from France

[@Ojb_1959]

Pho Rocks🍲

[@gamewhipess]

Every time I have a problem, you come out with a video addressing it. Thank you! You and tuck have been such a big help these last 3 years.

[@heather9130]

This is great info! I've been plucking out little mushrooms all over the vegetable garden. Now I know I can probably just leave them or allow them to compost back into the soil. I've also been considering mulching the raised beds, so it's nice to know it's situational and I can see what works for my plants. Thanks James!

[@yasminnilima2366]

I use both wood chips and straw as fertilizer and soil bettering. I do have rabbits and chickens too. That helps a lot! Chicken manure put in a big container with water and nettles gives a very good fertilizer during summer. (Acctually any greens in water will give a Good fertilizer, just give it some time , weeks, to decompose.) Good luck all!

[@elissapoh9073]

super helpful James... this explains the issue that I'm having in my first year beds this year... too many woodchips, not enough compost. Thankyou!

[@ThisBeautifulFarmLife]

Excellent. I did not understand the fungal/bacterial difference but I have gardened this way I guess intuitively. We have really great growing soil and I amend the growing area for annuals with a layer of compost once a year much like Charles Dowding. Then, depending on what I am planting I cover again with wood chips or leave uncovered to get tender annuals started. Once the annuals are up and strong I take the wood chips back up to the edges to keep in moisture and weeds out. It is working great so far! Thanks!

[@FarmerBrownGrows]

Tomatoes actually aren't annuals. They're perennials that most people remove each year. Cutting them back and properly protecting them will give you years of growth and production from the same plant. This is the same for peppers as well! Food Forest is looking great! I remember when you started posting about the project. Our's is hitting the 3rd year in a few months. Some trees are already reaching 15+' and we've got over 1K different perennials growing on the way to 5K! Keep It Growing!

[@lucypearlmorgan3115]

@ Farmer Brown Grows. That's true. I have not been successful at it yet, but I gave a tomato plant to someone a couple of years ago and his plant is alive and thriving . But sorry to say, he did not make it to see them produce this year.

[@FarmerBrownGrows]

@@lucypearlmorgan3115 Those that he leaves behind will reap the rewards of both your efforts.

[@xyzsame4081]

That is a fabulous advice - although I do not know if that works in the zone with colder winters. Will check that out.

[@Rumade]

My friend found the same with French beans in her polytunnel. She cut them back and they regrew from the stumps!

[@K.Ishana]

This is so helpful! I didn't know I could grow tomatoes and peppers as perennials. Any other veggies like this?

[@harrytinker2328]

Thanks for addressing this issue with woodchips. Most of the videos on Back to Eden do not point this out. In my experiences, it has been difficult preventing the chips from getting turned under when planting annuals and also when harvesting root crops.

[@Dude8718]

Once the wood chips get mixed in there, you're fucked. Early this season I got a bag of potting mix that was like straight wood chips. I had a feeling that was gonna cause issues germinating stuff. I think it did because last year I had like a 90% germ rate. This year it was like 65% There were other factors, but the seeds in that wood chippy crap seemed worse.

[@dereka8041]

The only thing I've used/can use is my fall leaves and some grass clippings, mixed in. Mainly, I use fall leaves from my house and both neighbors' yards next to me.

[@constitutionalrepublican1611]

too much grass and you will have maggots in the garden.

[@constitutionalrepublican1611]

@K Barnes well thats not,the case for some people i know,personally who are now fighting that method of growing and theyve only,used grass clippings for,ehhh 4-5 years now.

[@Meenadevidasi]

I'll never use grass clippings as mulch again. The lawn in my garden is healthier than the lawn in my yard.

[@Tuzieq]

I'm with Meena

[@Meenadevidasi]

@@Tuzieq lol

[@martyvanord984]

FINALLY!!! Your video is the first one that I have found that is concise and explains the benefits and limitations of wood chips. It seems that many drift away from the back to Eden approach but just do not comprehend the permaculture principals involved. So many channels attempt to address this but only waste time. THANK YOU.

[@Joshua-we2us]

Tucky has gained many hideouts from the heat, now that the Food Forest has flourished so abundantly. 😊🥒🥕🐶💜💚💙❤💛

[@angie4755]

I love sharing my garden harvest with my pups! So sweet!!

[@jessicahitchborn6537]

I like the Ruth Stout method "lasagna" gardening. I chop dead or unwanted plants on top and it all breaks down into great dirt, plus I add bagged soil in some places on top of the mulchy bits I chop up. Just keep layering and cutting up the bits! It really helps retain moisture.

[@CaroleHaddon]

I do lasagna gardening with cardboard boxes from the friendly neighborhood convenience store recycling dumpster. I cut it into manageable strips, pile them in my wheelbarrow and cover the cardboard in water and let it saturate, then I lay it down three or four layers deep and overlapping, then I put a light layer of bagged wood mulch to hold it down and retain moisture (and it looks like you have a thick beautiful layer of mulch, but no one knows!). MY PLANTS LOVE IT!!!

[@askaboutRudyV]

@@CaroleHaddon I do the same thing with boxes and wood chips and barks chips. If you can get bark chips use them, they have WAY more nutrients than wood chips (wood doesn't have much minerals etc to give off, bark does though.).

[@sherrie9241]

@@CaroleHaddon oh, im stealing you're idea! thanks!

[@CaroleHaddon]

@@sherrie9241 go for it!! Your garden will love you right back. Keep it moist!

[@CaroleHaddon]

@@askaboutRudyV yes!!! Pine bark nuggets!

[@debraclaussen]

James, watching your videos feels like attending a college level class. You include so much technical information and so much reasoning, and gardening philosophy. L.O.V.E.

[@EricWhiteChooseGod1st]

I've had this question for years, but didn't know how to formulate it. Every time I saw Paul Gautchi raking in his vegetables patch, I knew it didn't look the same as his orchard, but I couldn't put a finger on what was different. Thanks for the explanation.

[@howiedewitt_]

Last year I added 4 ft high raised beds to my woodchip garden. They are very productive. They replaced my 12" high raised beds which kept shrinking as I added woodchips around them. 😄

[@Ripleyripper]

I'm real lucky to have all the well-rotted horse manure I want for my garden for free. Nothing better!

[@Husker.Harley]

When you say "well-rotted" how old is it? I can get it but I thought it has to be several years old?

[@stevenjbeto]

An important episode with useful and necessary information. I admire you for letting us know what doesn't work so well in specific locations of the garden like the perennials. There are no failures. There are changes in awareness that make improvements in food production.

[@blanquitochulito7466]

By far my favorite gardening channel! I wondered the same thing about your raised beds vs wood chips. However, I'm all about organic soils and avoiding store bought. Would love to see a video from you on how to make your own soil from scratch that you might use in a raised bed for perennials. Nature seems to do it, how can I replicate it without buying soil and nutrients from stores? Is it possible? I did see Paul Gautschi and his chicken soil. Is that sufficient for growing perennials in beds with the mindset of avoiding store bought? Thanks James, love your videos and you have inspired me to do the same when I move out to my farm next year!

[@angelawillis145]

Thank you so much for this video. I received a beautiful load of wood chips from chip drop for free this year. I was so excited to get them and use for the garden but I’ve seen several videos saying they aren’t good to use (with no good explanation of why.) now I understand about the bacteria soil/compost and fungal relationship. So yay! I’m excited again and not feeling like I made a bad mistake. I just need to add compost and THEN mulch. Thanks for the great explanation.

[@duckbrother2duckbrother246]

I've actually used mulched leaves and grass in my annual garden for years, and it works very well!

[@dustinb1070]

Yes just got make sure it doesn't contain toxins to other plants. A few native trees in Florida kill everything under their canopies.

[@xyzsame4081]

@@dustinb1070 but as MULCH not even wood chips from Black Walnut has negative impacts (University of Washington) - and that TREE does not tolearate other plants nearby. so I wonder if the leaves are not also usually harmless. are there any trees where the dropped leaves can give off something damaging while they are broken down? The bacteria and fungi that break them down will be unimpressed. The ALIVE trees may kill everthing under the canopy, but that could be the roots not the leaves. Or the leaves as long es they can excrate something = they are alive and part of the living tree. Anyway, in a compost heap with some greens etc, it should be O.K. Hindering plants to germinate or grow is not the same as hindering fungi, bacteria, earth worms.

[@dustinb1070]

Yeah it's basically a growth retardent. Oak tree leaves do it. I'd assume with a decent amount of time composting it's rendered inert

[@ChristaFree]

I use both in my gardens. When adding annuals I add more aged chicken coop bedding. All of my fruit trees like a little bit the beginning of the season too.

[@forrighteousness]

For my annuals in my garden beds, I use half-finished compost as a mulch just to make sure I kill all of the weed seeds.

[@jamesprigioni]

Smart!

[@anthonycreations]

That’s exactly what I’m doing in my garden beds with wood chips in the walkways. Best of both worlds.

[@forrighteousness]

@@anthonycreations You should check out Back To Reality he has an interesting way to grow potatoes on his channel.

[@askaboutRudyV]

I do too. Cut and drop while pruning.

[@halfcenturyfarm607]

I started my food forest 3 years ago, because of you,and I LOVE it❤ but you're totally right about annuals. I added several raised beds & a small market style garden this year!!! You're awesome, thank you so much ❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@magi144]

The Back to Eden method has been a real game changer. You’ve done such an amazing job on your property. I’ve been inspired to film my own backyard transformation. Thanks 🙏

[@marko176schneider5]

Super ❤

[@nesd0g]

you should... whats the worst? 200 ppl view it? haha.. thats dope! go for it.. good luck!

[@marko176schneider5]

@@nesd0g спасибо ❤

[@brightbeautifuldays]

All your videos are excellent! This was the best explanation regarding woodchips and made me realize I don't want a truckload of them when I have a small backyard and want to grow mostly annuals. Thank you for saving me from a giant problem!

[@katejannuzzi2375]

Your best video yet! Man the garden looks so good, and you have grown a long way! Glad to hear the reference to Paul growing the annuals near the chicken poop, but all this just makes me want some true perennials more!

[@daughterofTheLion]

Thank you so much for sharing your well earned wisdom. You are a great teacher and explain things with skill and an easy going manner so that anyone can understand. And Tuck is the extra loving benefit to joining you in your garden.❤

[@karenlatham4053]

I just noticed Tuck has his own t-shirts and hoodies! That's so cute!

[@Randyskandies]

I use Mushroom compost every year. This year we moved and built a 1200 square ft garden. 6 yards of mushroom compost added and rolled in to the natural dirt we had on site. The garden is definitely happy. I have 7 ft tall single stemme yell crookneck squash plants and the 22 cucumber plants have produced over 130 jars of pickles and are still throwing 20 plus cucumbers every 4-5 days. Love your videos I share em with all my gardening friends.

[@maryse8]

Hi James, When the stone fruit comes in, could you do a harvest video? I just watched one of your previous video on harvesting persimmons, which was excellent!

[@shuvanidev]

Perennial mulch for perennial plants, annual mulch for annual plants, and fungi for trees/perennials and beneficial bacteria for annuals. Thanks James!!!!

[@VondaInWonderland]

I'm starting a mushroom section. Nobody even mentioned wood chips. Thanks James and Tuck ♥

[@elizabethkragas3588]

Excellent! I have avoided using wood chips in my native plants garden. Now I know why-they tend to “throw seeds” and these volunteers won’t come up with the heavy wood chips on top. Now I can use bark mulch with confidence on the perennials and avoid it where I want the seeds to germinate. Thank you!

[@HomesteadDIY]

Well this is certainly a 180 degree pivot from the advice you’ve given in the past. A lot of people followed that advice. I quickly realized that it was suboptimal for growing annual vegetables and removed the woodchips from where I planted them. I still use it around my trees and in the pathways, but I do not use it near my vegetables. A lot of people will undoubtedly be disappointed to learn that what you told them before was wrong. Well, maybe not wrong, but rather not the best advice to follow.

[@rigalaitheseer]

His advise is based on what he learns from experience, if next year he realises that there's a better way or that what he's doing is not condusive, he has to learn and do better. There's no rule book. What he did in the past also worked, so its not bad. Its a learning process.

[@ruggedwoodworking3337]

@@rigalaitheseer The problem arises when someone touts a method as the BEST way to do something and then says, Oops! Never mind. Maybe it's not so good after all. Yes, gardening is an evolving experience and there is no one right way to do things. That's why people should not be so definitive. Just the year before this video he was touting why growing in wood chips was the greatest thing you could do for your vegetables

[@wongthong7]

I hope you know that you are our role model and keep doing what you are doing!

[@sagefool5786]

At my local mattress recycling plant, they give away as much coconut husk sheeting as you can carry. They get it out of old mattresses so they're actual sheets about 3/4" thick and I find it works perfectly in my raised beds. I just use scissors to cut out the sizes and shapes that I need out of a king size sheet and lay it on top of the soil. It's also excellent for starting seedings.

[@CaroleHaddon]

Whuuuuuutt!!!!! I need to find one in Michigan!!! *but does it smell like pee* ?????

[@susaville]

I'm jealous. But good for you.

[@stacynewton34]

I always learn so much from you. You really break it down and love what you are doing. Please dont stop making videos

[@themontephone875]

That’s what I thought...I wondered if you were holding back on wood chips Great content!

[@jamesprigioni]

Yup, tweaked things a little. Thanks for the kind words my friend.

[@LitlPixi]

I’m 37 and I’ve been gardening for 13 years and I’m in love!!😂😍🌱

[@dropbear2972]

You need to make a “Tuck eating veggies compilation” brings so much joy every time I see him chomp into some veggies lol

[@Jenura01]

Albus Dumbledor omg what a great idea! It should go on Reddit as ‘eye bleach’ (cleans your eyes and makes you happy after seeing something awful).

[@euphoniahale5181]

Albus Dumbledor yep. Without Tuck he’d be nothing. Lol

[@theruckers905]

Haha I think he has one now!

[@jourdansarpy4935]

All of my dogs loved carrots. Dogs in the wild eat veggies to supplement their hunts. Even dog food has plant based fillers. If anyone has a pupper, talk to your vet about giving them veggies as snacks. Let your gardens supplement your pet treat bill too lol

[@nunosousa9462]

Thanks for this James! We started out food forest project this spring, exactly with woodchip everywhere and, with time and experience, it was already starting to be evident that for annuals, it doesn’t really work as well. For annuals, it still seems to be better to have them tidy, organized in space and not like a forest wild garden. I guess that’s what zone 1 means. The human energy side of things also gets saved. I planted some lettuce in between the small trees and I’ve just seen them struggle with the woodchips and my neglect...

[@AngieMeadKing]

So informative. Thank you 🙏🏼

[@bobjob3632]

Thank him for his legs!!😘🔥

[@superprettyko]

Great job showing us a natural - mostly free way of getting the most from our garden. keep sharing your knowledge.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

I am basically growing everything in wood chips, but I also used homemade compost. So I have both bacteria and fungus. I can't hardly keep up with my squash and some of my tomatoes are just now starting to ripen. I am going to have to can a whole mess of tomatoes once they ripen. They are everywhere. I also have butternut squash I planted from seed from a store bought fruit blowing up. One of them is as long as my forearm and still is not ripe yet. I had to put up some small trellises to keep the vines in my raised bed otherwise they would be going all in the pathways. I only have 3 butternut plants, but I figure I am going to have something like 20 squash by the time the season ends. The way I figure it, you cannot go wrong having both bacteria and fungi in your soil. If your plant needs it, it can use it and if it doesn't it should be fine.

[@poolman8676]

For some reason my butternut squash are making beautiful male flowers but they're not pollinating the females. What do you think I'm doing wrong?

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

@@poolman8676 It could be a lack of pollinators. Do you have bees that frequent your garden? If not, you can use a paint brush and collect pollen from a male flower and dust a female flower's pistol. It is always good to have natural pollinators though. You may want to set up a bird bath near your garden and keep it filled with water. This will help attract both birds and pollinators to your garden, which is a good thing. Also, try to keep from using pesticides and herbicides as both can kill honeybees. I also make sure I have at least two of every plant type planted fairly close to each other, that way they can cross pollinate each other.

[@poolman8676]

@@wesbaumguardner8829 wow, thank you for replying back so quickly. what's funny is I didn't have any bees until a couple days ago. My friend gave me a bunch of catfish and I clean them and left the innards by the garden. I woke up the next day and had so many bees swarming around. It was just coincidence. I think I'm going to keep a dead fish around the garden all the time from now on, lol. Yes I have six butternut squash and they're all doing well but just producing flowers. I open the doors and now the bees are swarming around there. I hope they get the hint.Thank you so much for the advice. I really appreciate it.

[@poolman8676]

No pesticides or herbicides anywhere by the garden. I use Miracle-Gro to start it out. That's the most commercial I've been so far.

[@wesbaumguardner8829]

@@poolman8676 No problem. As long as you have bees and both male and female flowers you should be good. The only other problems I could think of are soil conditions/PH, sun, and watering. You want slightly acidic soil with 6 to 6.5 PH and full sun/no shade. Squash like deep less frequent watering. I water mine every other day about twice as much water as my tomatoes. I use a raised bed with high organic matter. I do not use the chemical fertilizers. I use fish fertilizer and blood meal and bone meal along with compost.

[@iwanttobelieve5970]

My area it rains constantly so I started my beds and containers with wood chips at the bottom and soil on top so there’s better drainage. I also covered the ground with wood chips and straw to absorb the water. Mulch on top would keep the roots wet and we’d get disease but wood chips at the bottom is better for wet areas so the rain drains off.

[@tomnekuda3818]

You've got such a great channel and I learn so much even tho I've been gardening for 55+ years. I liked your analysis/explanation of woody mulch breakdown vs bacterial-driven breakdown soil.

[@davidfairchild9561]

The town where I live, gives free wood chips all year, and free compost in the spring! I use the wood chips almost everywhere, but on the veggie garden, once planted in compost and soil mixed, cover it with shredded leaves, which retain moisture and keep down the weeds.

[@juneshannon8074]

David Fairchild I am green with envy David. I used to be able to get woodchips for free, then donate a carton beer per load, now the local council takes everything. I told them they were greedy, lol.

[@davidfairchild9561]

@@juneshannon8074 if the Councillors were taking it all for themselves, I would have them charged with theft, and be at the next council meeting!!!!

[@juneshannon8074]

David Fairchild sorry I didn’t make myself clear. Our city council uses the wood chips in parks, playgrounds etc., and have piles in reserve dotted about. That’s why I said they were greedy. I wouldn’t be surprised if a load or two found its way to their residences though.

[@songbirdforjesus2381]

@@juneshannon8074 my situation in Cary, NC too

[@nclifton7862]

This answered so many questions i had in the exact way i needed to hear them presented. Thanks James.

[@BlackJesus8463]

Traded my tiller for a chipper/shredder! Yay!

[@MrPmfontes]

His intros give me such a rush. He’s at a level 10! I’m at a mild level 4. He hits the ground runnin! 🤣😂

[@ashleyshaw5241]

Same !! Gives me anxiety but I like it 🤣🤣👏🏼

[@alisonstewart78]

Mw too lol

[@homeiswherethegardenis3057]

Always scares me even though I watch him all the time. Anxiety for me for 2 minutes then the heart rate drops and I can watch the video. Lol!

[@lyn5274]

hahaha! just check out his very first videos , it seems he went from about level 1 to level 10!

[@momofkings1]

Cracks me up how his voice changes from the intro to the actual video. LOL

[@joanies6778]

Chemical free grass clippings work as a great mulch, too. Use no more than 1/2" thickness. I have wood chips all around the beds in walkways, but use straw or grass clippings for mulch. Straw holds moisture well... very happy with a thick layer around my tomatoes. I had so many varieties of mushrooms in my yard this year, it was glorious because I knew it meant a healthy soil. Actually, I was going to knock some of the big ones down until I saw a squirrel eating them. Free squirrel food!!! 🐿

[@nathans.3618]

I saw a recent study that shows tomatoes, along with other unlisted plants, would send electrical signals via micro rizal fungi to each other. The signals would change due to different factors. Such as water, pollinators or pest. Sadly the study only compared the signals between plants that had connecting soil and plants without. I think if the study also check for signal strength between bacterial and fungi it would help us determine if plants prefer one over the other. Anyone who gardens can tell plants communicate with each other. But it would be cool if we could translate the messages and be able to duplicate positive messages to our plants and possibly increase their health and production. Or have them be able to tell us when they want water, have pest/disease or possibly what kinds of pest or disease as soon as it happens.

[@Jenura01]

Nathan S. That really is cool

[@anthonycreations]

The book “ The Findhorn Garden “ might be a good read for you

[@drive-byguitarlessons1858]

I reassure, encourage and talk to my plants regularly. I think they need to hear how great of a job they’re doing. Yes. I’m weird.

[@TheWBWoman]

@FIREGARDEN Very interesting theory!

[@maxineblock2167]

Lovely garden James 👍👌😊🌷

[@golftownpro999]

Watching James's videos are like gardening coffee... I get so hyped to get out and garden after watching a fresh video 😂 LET'S GO 🙌

[@zeruty]

He seriously makes me cringe tbh

[@nancelorimer1474]

I was wondering about the chips with the annual veggies. Now I just need to think: annual mulch with annuals and perennial mulch with perennials! Yes! Thank you so much.

[@AlexandreLollini]

This is huge, and this is not common knowledge. And that is true : everything has to be adapted to situations, here I try to combat desert and aridity in a high slope environnement, so techniques are different, but some remain true whatever. Here I have to make terraces very level then use at the bottom of trenches some argilous impermeable dirt to try and retain some moisture by the bottom (as you do only for the top) and we have also to think about the sides. And also some higher trees are needed to avoid annual plant from cooking in the sun, and to recapture some of the water the lower plant are evapo-transpiring. It's good if trees are loosing leaves in half seasons to increase sunlight when there is less of it. Nature made things very well, we have to understand and tap in it.

[@xyzsame4081]

If you do terracing be very mindful of the possibility of mudslide IF / WHEN your area ever gets unusal amount of rain. a once in 10 years event. - I am saying that because the permaculture guru of Austria, Joseph Holzer, did well on his farm (he developed his methods from the late 1960s on and only later realized there was such a thing and term as "permaculture" but the principles were siminlar. he also did excelent work on internationalal projects once he had gotten famous. Then he advised a land owner in the same country, but another state and with very differnet climate (he is in the mountains, and if an area was susceptible to slides it happened 500 or 1000 years ago). The woman he advised lived in a drier, warmer, much flatter region that also - usually - gets less rain. She had a mudslide that did a lot of damage, she wanted to transfer her land into a permaculture property with paying visitors, directly selling produce, restaurant etc. I think the mudslide did a lot of damage, and they engaged in a court battle (and she declared bankrupcy and he bought her farm). Not sure if HE was underestimating the area (that was nothing like he was used to), or if she was not following his instructions. But it was unexpected, a man with a LOT of experience and a high ability to read the landscape was part of the picture - and then they had a mudslide. If he had them on his farm, in that region (mountains, it goes up faily high, so traditionally only grass / dairy / beef) a farm has to be large, yields were not high and the (steep) slopes were hard to work. If he learned the hard way on his property - a mudslide was not catstrophic the land was not as valuable and it was not likely any human or building would be nearby.

[@xyzsame4081]

If you are in an arid area you might find Brad Lancester and the concept of "planting the rain" interesting. One thing that he said in a presentation that struck with me. He said that people applied the concepts, but did not always get the reading of the landscape right, or see the full picture (incl. potential extreme events) and obviously also did not have mentoring. So things worked - untill they didn't. When a big rain came after 5 years or so. Which instead of being a blessing and filling the water table and their reservoires wiped out the structures they had build in the years before. Because they had not considered what would be if one system element / catchment was overwhelmed, or a drainage pipe failed * etc. What is the BACKUP if one element fails / is overwhelmed. * Geoff Lawton had a few pipes of swales clogged or something. And it hit a new swale that was not yet stabilized by surrounding trees. Wasn't a big deal in his case, more of a learning moment. And he can use machines and has many volunteers that will help to fix it. But it can happen to everyone, even a master like Geoff Lawton. Likely he profits of having set up a system that does have some reserves in security and absorption capacity, most catchments did NOT fail, and the event (rain) was not that big. But with climate change, extreme weather events will become more common. Draughts followed by excessive downpours. So the every 10 years rain weeks and storms might become more frequent. Or more than usual rain in winter, for weeks on end. Which would be a blessing of course - if you can safely catch the water and funnel it into your designated areas and into the underground.

[@xyzsame4081]

I found a channel from India NREGA National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. Low key earth work (lots of human labor) to stop runoff, to harvest the rain, and to avoid flooding (during monsoon) followed by draughts. So that is a government project, I watched a video (in English and a pdf was shown). it is open source and I was able to find it online. National Rural Employment Guarantee Act WatershedWorks Manual Baba Amte Centre for People’s Empowerment Samaj Pragati Sahayog July 2006 From chapter 3 on you might find interesting information, also regarding the steepness and what can be done with wat slope.

[@xyzsame4081]

I think the video I watched was NREGA-MP--Watershed dev on Farm Interventions-MGNREGA from around 2015 - but they have several uploads. And it might be comparable in that they have slopes and times of draught, followed by a LOT of rain in short time. your problem (and that of these Indian farmers) is normally to get rain and then to catch it - but they also had to protect themselves from too much rain.

[@AlexandreLollini]

@@xyzsame4081 I am aware of the mudslide risk. Most of the terraces I have I think were first built by the roman empire (people living at this time) so I am just repairing them, most are going with the bedrock, and the 2 centuries old olive trees are grabbint on those, making the complete thing solid (i hope) but thank you for the warning.

[@jamestboehm6450]

I use both wood chips a grass clippings. No herbicides in my grass, and is added with vermicompost. Extra worms are an added benefit.

[@urokira]

Oh, and “Tuck Approved”. Love it!!! Hahahaa

[@robertmattner6610]

Wow , James you continually excel at teaching complex principles with simple applications; " Annual mulch for Annual Plants..." I have sooo much to share with you all because of your encouraging me and my applying your shared enthusiasm . Hugs for tuck. Belated HAPPY THANKSGIVING....

[@cooleooo1532]

I wish It was fall or spring. I live in Louisiana and today it was 95 with a heat index of 110.

[@503rpf]

🥵🥵🥵

[@theseeker4700]

Damn, sorry to hear that, we just got a reprieve here in Ohio. Need some shade cloth though...

[@watcher3774]

94° right now in Mississippi. I feel your heat exhaustion 😞

[@leahiamhopesulony4997]

Hey Southeast Fam! I'm in NOLA

[@katejannuzzi2375]

91 in Jersey... Weather it's wood, straw or diced leaves... Mulch is 💯 needed 😊

[@robburke5577]

I used woodchips last season in the garden and for some reason the plants didn’t produce like in the past. But the woodchips definitely worked well with the fruit trees!

[@nono7977]

I love your energy!!!!!!

[@jamesprigioni]

Thank you my friend!

[@nono7977]

I tried to bring my dog Mako into my garden because I love how Tuck knows what food to eat... well she got too excited and now I’m one pepper plant down haha. How did you train Tuck to be mindful of your plants?

[@Atulipan]

Bro! The energy you project at the start of every video is just awesome, my wife and I love your videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with all of us. God bless you and your family!

[@3DAntonio47]

Video starts: James doesn't jump out of a bush. Me: Slightly disappointed.

[@ight3817]

Thank you very much for sharing info about the varieties of soil to use!! It helped out a lot. Your carrots look awesome too, can't wait to see everything else!

[@jamesprigioni]

Harvest video coming soon 😁

[@zyklonburn8343]

"What's going on Growers"😎

[@LB-vl3qn]

Great info and I appreciate how succinctly it was delivered. You always get down to business. Thanks! ~ Lisa

[@DaniD519]

I'm getting my first chip drop tomorrow. Have you ever had a problem with termites?

[@antsgun]

ive been using wood chips for 30 years never once have i seen a termite or had termite problems at my house

[@jamesprigioni]

Nope, I talk about termites in a different wood chip video I have :)

[@DaniD519]

Thanks! I'm looking forward to extending my garden area and doing so the wood chip way

[@CaroleHaddon]

Dani, let me know how your chip drop goes, I've been considering it! I wouldn't even care if I got stumps and logs!

[@KoalemosTheAtomizer]

@@CaroleHaddon I just got my second drop from chip drop! I tipped them 20 dollars for each and both drops showed up within 2 weeks. Not sure how much the tipping effects the time but I tip anyway cuz it's a great service. I found 1 plastic bag in one drop and a couple pieces of glass but other than that it's perfect!

[@margaretkohler9454]

Thank you for all your videos. They're informative and motivating. I put in 4 raised beds less than a month ago and I love them so much.

[@an602tsar5]

"theres nothing really in gardening that you can say works for everything" water

[@zeruty]

How well water works in gardening depends on the pH and TDS

[@markb8954]

Air.

[@an602tsar5]

@@zeruty mmm yes because plants can't survive without water

[@zeruty]

@@an602tsar5 plants need water. Not all water will sustain plants. If water is too acidic, too alkaline, or has too many dissolved solids, it prevents the plant from absorbing nutrients.

[@zeruty]

@@an602tsar5 not to mention the obvious, watering a plant is not always the right choice. Too much water will kill many plants. Too frequent watering will kill many plants.

[@Warrior-In-the-Garden]

This makes so much sense about fungal vs bacterial. That chard though WOW!!! And very interesting about the timing of the wood chips and tomato plants. Tuck is so cute!!!

[@sdadams1843]

First

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Gooooo!

[@nima16042]

you hit the nail on the head here. I think woodchip mulch would be perfect to kill weeds and establish a food forest with basic trees and bushes, then my goal would be to transition over to groundcovers with insect resistant/N fixing properties and to plant beneficial plants everywhere (borage, calendula, yarrow, hyssop, catmint, nasturtium, lupines). Separately I would maintain an annual garden with polycultures of annual vegetables that was rich in compost.

[@rollsroyce1279]

Second

[@jamesprigioni]

Let's Goooo!

[@stephen6945]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge about wood chip mulch! You're easily one of the best permaculture teachers on KZbin.