Things You'll Need:
- Weed barrier material
- Shovel
- Rake
-
Step 1
Use wood chips for pathways alongside a garden. Wood chips are durable, they resist compaction from foot traffic, and offer a cushioned surface to walk and work on while you tend your garden.
-
Step 2
Incorporate color into a path using wood chips. Make a path blend into its surroundings better by using natural-colored chips. Or, use colored wood chips to design a path that stands out. This will guide foot traffic away from certain areas you want to protect.
-
Step 3
Use wood chips as mulch. A mulch of wood chips will reduce weeds, keep the soil warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer, and conserve the moisture in the soil by reducing evaporation.
-
Step 4
Work wood chips into the soil to correct compacted soil. Working wood chips into the soil allows more water and air into the soil to promote plant health. The wood chips also add nutrients to the soil as they decompose. Wood chips are also helpful in increasing the beneficial earthworm population in the soil.
-
Step 5
Add a ring of wood chips around fruit trees. This serves as mulch and reduces bruising on fallen fruit.
