What about using wood chips and tree bark as organic mulch for tomato plants?

Question

What are the specific outcomes? Which is better, wood chips or tree bark? Thank you.

Answer 1

Don't do it. Mulch and bark absorb water which your plant needs. Tomatoes are 95 % water ,best left in a mix of good topsoil and some cow manure. makes rich tomato not 'mealy;. It depends on your climate also.

Answer 2

Sure, that's fine. Just make sure you add a slow release fertilizer with nitrogen. The organisms that break down the mulch feed on nitrogen and your tomato plants need the nitrogen to grow bushy and full. Mulch purchased from garden centers is almost always nitrogenated. Wood chips would probably be better than tree bark and be wary of pine shavings. There are a lot of resins that can be detrimental to young plants. Oh, and actually, mulch helps keep the soil cool, and there for more moist. Mulch is a good thing.

Answer 3

You know, there are so many reason for and against... and it does depend on where you live and your growing conditions.
However, I think black landscape fabric ( even black plastic)would be the best route. This will keep the soil warm - tomatoes love warm feet, as well as hold moisture and prevent weeds from growing.

Any form of mulch could harbour pests and most specifically molds that could cause blight on your plants and the tomatoes.

As already mentioned, any type of wood mulch also depleats your soil of nitrogen as it breaks down.

Answer 4

Not recommended!! There could be some chemicals in the tree that would be bad for the tomatoes, especially walnuts.