Mulching the Rhubarb patch with wood chip. These are the shreddings of some of the branches from the Fig trees I was pruning a few weeks ago. Fresh woody matter is best applied as a mulch. It decomposes slowly releasing nutrients while helping to retain moisture in the soil.

 It is sometimes said that uncomposted wood chips 'rob' nitrogen and other nutrients from the soil during their decomposition by bacterial action. Digging them in might result in a short lived and minimal depletion of nutrients until 'digested'. As a surface mulch that effect is negligible and more than outweighed by the benefits.