Properties of Wood Chips

Wood chips offer varied benefit to gardens and landscapes.

Wood chips offer varied benefits to gardens and landscapes. While they are most commonly used for aesthetic appeal in pathways as an affordable alternative to gravel or pavers, wood chips can also be used to enhance soil structure and composition when placed on top of, or worked into, the soil.

Retain Moisture

Whether used as mulch and spread over the top of garden beds, or worked into soil as an amendment to enhance the soil structure, wood chips help prevent evaporation. This is of particular benefit in hot, arid climates, or when soil structure is poor and drains too quickly for plants to absorb moisture.

Provide Insulation

In hot, dry climates, wood chips used as mulch help cool the soil to encourage seeds to germinate and protect roots from extreme temperatures. Likewise, in cold climates, wood chips act as an insulating blanket, trapping warmth from the ground and protecting vulnerable plants from a freeze.

Prevent Erosion

Wood chips discourage erosion of soil and encourage porosity by displacing the impact of raindrops and water from sprinklers.

Discourage Weed Growth

By acting as a barrier between the soil and the sun, wood chips can reduce the number of weed seeds that successfully germinate. When used as a mulch,wood chips make removal of weeds easier than from compacted soils.

References

• Kansas State University: Using Wood Chips for Mulch
• Sacramento Master GardenersWood Chips--Pros and Cons