Landscaping Information on Wood Chips

Wood chips can be helpful in landscaping.

Wood chips are made from wood debris, limbs and tree and bush trimmings that have been gathered and sent through a chipper. This practice disposes neatly of the unwanted wood debris while creating a material that is useful, attractive, earth-friendly and cost-effective.

Uses

Wood chips are used to make pathways. They can be used to create a natural but universal look within plant beds beneath taller plants that is warmer and more natural than gravel. They can be used as a mulch that is beneficial to the plants.

Benefits As Mulch

As a mulch, wood chips provide many benefits such as savings on weeding time, savings on time and cost due to less frequent watering or no watering because rain water is better retained, reduction in the amount of weeds, protection of the root structures, and nourishment to the soil as it decomposes.

Benefits As Paths

Used in walkways and paths, wood chips provide a more comfortable walking surface than rock or concrete. Wood chips create a more natural-looking path that does not interfere with the aesthetics and helps prevent weeds growth in the pathways. An obvious path through your landscaping can prevent damage to plants from accidental steps.

Myths

Wood chips do not spontaneously combust. Wood chips are not poisonous and do not leach nitrogen from the soil.

Warnings

Wood chips can attract termites. They may cause allergy symptoms in those with mold allergies during wet years.

References

• Wood Chips - Myths & Facts
• Landscaping Information on Wood Chips
• Wood Chips in Landscaping