Sycamore bark safe for mulching?

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KatherineD Cincinnati, OH Jul 06, 2011

There is a sycamore tree in my yard that sheds A LOT of bark. My first thought was "Yay! Free mulch!" but I wanted to check and see if it's safe to mulch with (not too acidic, toxins, whatever) before I spread it all over my garden. Any ideas?

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jul 08, 2011

Yes you can use the bark and leaves from the sycamore as mulch.

"After about 10 years sycamores and plane trees begin to shed their bark in large patches, creating mottled trunks of cream, tan, and olive green--a sort of calico bark. Fallen bark and leaf litter from one mature sycamore can provide plenty of chopped leaf mulch each fall."

Quote from Celebrating the Sycamore

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1016/is_1_106/ai_61535157/

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ViburnumValley Scott County, KY(Zone 5b) Jul 10, 2011

I collect Sycamore bark patches, because they are rather attractive bits of nature's art.

They will create no cause for concern other than the fact that they are undecomposed pieces of wood. There will be a nitrogen cost to help break down the extra carbon which the bark is made up of. Normal fertilization practices will help overcome any imbalance that may occur over this period. I'd scatter some granular 10-10-10 during spring and summer after mulching with "raw" materials like this.

The good thing is that the Sycamore bark is pretty thin, and likely doesn't take nearly as long to break down as would bark from a mature oak or other similar hardwood species.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jul 10, 2011

The bark is quite attractive, Thanks Viburnum Valley for the added heads up and info....should have remembered to add about the 'nitrogen loss" and need for supplemental fertilizer.

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KatherineD Cincinnati, OH Jul 12, 2011

Thanks for your suggestions! I will definitely try to save it all and use it in the garden.

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themoonhowl Prairieville, LA(Zone 9a) Jul 12, 2011

You are very welcome, Katherine.

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