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can I use the natural woodchips to help with the growth my flower garden?

2years ago a tree fell and landed in my backyard, everything is fine now. I was digging around the stump and came across a nest of larvae from the stage beetle, I'm going to preserve the nest. Now , what I want to know is can I use that area for my flower garden (pepper mint and lavender)or will the beetles or their larvae eat my plants?

Public Comments

1. Yes, but I would solarize the spot first. You can always miss grubs, and if so, they WILL eat the roots of nearly anything you plant there.
2. Stag Beetle? Stag Beetle larva eat rotting deciduous wood, not live plants or roots. Adult beetles live on liquids such as tree sap. They will do no harm to a garden. As far as wood chips, clean up as much as you can before planting. As wood decomposes, it uses up needed nitrogen for the process. A heavy concentration of chips in the soil can prevent anything from growing until they have completely broken down unless you add plenty of extra nitrogen. Also, if the tree was a Walnut, Butternut, Hickory, or Pecan there will be a substance in the wood and soil called Jugalone, which inhibits the growth of many other plants or can even kill some.