WSU Extension Q&A: Using chipped wood and fallen leaves as a mulch? Check for disease

Q. Can I use my chipped wood from pruning and fallen leaves as a mulch around my plants?

A. In general, you can use wood chippings and leaves as mulch. However, you need to be careful about diseases. There are some microorganisms in the soil that will “eat” some disease spores, like powdery mildew, and some disease spores may die from cold or dry weather over the winter. However, that does not occur with every disease. Make sure that anything you use is disease free. Also, depending on what tree you have certain mulches can change the acidity (ex. Cedar) or viability (ex. walnut) of the soil. Understand the condition and properties of the trees and leaves you are chipping so that you are successful in the application.

Q. I am having a holiday stuffing problem. I heard stuffing should not be cooked in the turkey, because of the potential to cause food borne illness. My problem is that I don’t have lots of room in my oven to cook it outside the turkey. Do you have any suggestions?

A. The safety issue with cooking a stuffed turkey is that the stuffing might not reach a safe internal temperature by the time the turkey is done. Stuffing needs to reach a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees for safety. If it has not reached 165 when the meat is done, continue cooking until the stuffing reaches 165 degrees. Once the stuffing and meat both reach at least 165 degrees, remove the bird from the oven and let stand 20 minutes before removing the stuffing and carving. For optimal safety and uniform doneness, USDA suggests cooking your stuffing separately. One way to do this without taking up oven space is in a slow cooker. To cook stuffing in a slow cooker:

▪ The stuffing needs to be very moist.

▪ Fill the slow cooker loosely no more than two-thirds full.

▪ The lid should fit tightly on the slow cooker.

▪ Start cooking on the high setting for at least 1 hour before reducing the setting to low.

▪ Cook until the center of the stuffing reaches 165 degrees as measured with a food thermometer.

▪ Consult your slow cooker manual for approximate times.

For all your holiday leftovers, remember the two-hour rule and refrigerate cooked turkey and stuffing within two hours to avoid bacteria from multiplying in room-temperature food.

Q. Are there any big alfalfa and forage meetings this fall?

A. The Western Alfalfa and Forage Symposium Meeting is an excellent conference in Reno, Nev., on Nov. 28-30. For more information go to http://calhay.org/symposium.

This story was originally published November 17, 2017 at 1:26 PM with the headline "WSU Extension Q&A: Using chipped wood and fallen leaves as a mulch? Check for disease."