[MAIPC] Use of Tree of Heaven Mulch

[Muth, Norris (MUTH)]

My TLDR summary here is – it probably won’t do much, but can you risk it?

Longer thoughts…

I’ve worked in sites where Ailanthus wilt has decimated the trees, and when those sites already had co-occurring native vegetation, that native vegetation did just fine after a lot of dead Ailanthus decomposed into the ground below. It’s worth noting that many TOH sites actually are already disturbed and degraded in various ways so TOH allelochemicals might be the least of the legacy effects present in an area of (current or former) infestation.

Historically most studies on allelopathy tend to over-exaggerate the effects of the allelochemicals due to challenges in creating proper controls and other issues (I co-authored a short non-technical piece on this available here: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236176832_Cracking_the_Walnut_Case)
Another issue with these studies is that they tend to underestimate the rate at which these allelochemicals degrade in most systems. All the more likely with TOH which degrades so quickly it’s like Thanos snaps his finger and turns them to dust when they die.

Personally I would love to use a pile of Ailanthus mulch in an experiment, if I happened to have it just lying around and didn’t know what else to do with it. Of course, if whatever you’re planning on mulching is very important to you, you probably won’t want to run the risk of figuring out what the exact effects will be. You could consider using it as pathway material or something less directly interacting with your garden.

Best,
Norris


—
Norris Z. Muth, Ph.D. (he/him)
Juniata College
Zoom meeting<https://juniata.zoom.us/my/muthlab>
muthlab.org<http://muthlab.org/>


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From: MAIPC <maipc-bounces at lists.maipc.org> on behalf of Jackson, David Robert <drj11 at psu.edu>
Sent: Monday, February 7, 2022 11:17:20 AM
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Subject: [MAIPC] Use of Tree of Heaven Mulch

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See question below.  Does anyone have any information or knowledge on this subject?  Thanks.





Ailanthus mulch

I had nine 30-40’ ailanthus trees cut down and mulched. I did not realize at the time that it is allelopathic. I am trying to re-grow a native Virginia garden. Should I age this massive amount of mulch, or get rid of it? How long does its allelopathy last? Weeks? Months? Years?
Thank you so much for your kind consideration.

Robin Allman

robinallman54 at gmail.com<mailto:robinallman54 at gmail.com>

(804) 714-5874





Dave



David R. Jackson

Forest Resources Educator

Penn State Extension-Centre County

Willowbank Building, Room 322, 420 Holmes Street

Bellefonte, PA 16823

drj11 at psu.edu<mailto:drj11 at psu.edu>         814-355-4897(office)

Forests and Wildlife Extension:  https://extension.psu.edu/forests-and-wildlife



“Anything we can’t do forever is by definition unsustainable.”

Sir David Attenborough






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