Ramial Chipped Wood or RCW
RCW stands for Ramial Chipped Wood. It comes from recently cut and ground bushes and trees. RWC used as mulching at the foot of a bush.
RWC is used as a 3 to 5 cm. thick mulch at the foot of trees or on clumps between perennial plants. As mulching, it limits the development of weeds and retains soil humidity even in sunlight throughout the day, thus saving water.
Above all, RWC helps improve soil structure and enriches the elements of its decomposition which lead to the creation of humus. This transformation, brought about by bacteriae and fungus, is optimized when branches are still green and which are less than 7 cm. in diameter when they are ground. The increase in humus allows the soil's micro-fauna like the earthworm to develop and brings necessary food to the plants.
RWC can also be incorporated into the soil by raking. It can be used for all sorts of plants, whether in the vegetable garden, the orchard or in pots.
RWC should be topped-up or renewed regularly as it degrades more or less, depending on the type of wood used.
Did you know ?
RWC helps to strongly increase production of plants especially in tropical countries where it has been tested on different types of vegetables.