6 ways to use wood chips

Mulch

Adding wood chips to your compost is a great way to enrich it as the chips will break down and add to the nutritional value of your compost. The smaller the chips, the quicker they will break down. Most wood chips will be fine but make sure the wood has not been chemically treated or comes from a poisonous tree such as yew.

Mulch is a great way to control weeds growth in garden beds or grass around trees. They also help keep your plants retain heat and water and it looks great! Make sure the layer of mulch is thick enough (at least 2 inches) and remove any old mulch before replacing it. You might also need to add fertiliser if your plants or shrubs have specific needs.

Walkways

If you have larger wood chips or are not looking to use them as composting material, use them to define walkways! It can be a great way to even out the ground and suppress weed in a specific area of your garden.

For best result, dig the path at least 1 inch deep so the chips don’t shift too much. Before placing your wood chips, lay down a weed barrier or even some newspapers in order to prevent weed growth at the beginning. In time newspapers will break down and the wood chips will be enough to stop weeds from growing. Stones can be used to line the path, to further prevent the chips from shifting.

Play Area Surface

If you have a designated play area for kids, you could use wood chips as a natural alternative for rubber materials. Just make sure to inspect the area often to keep the ground even and remove any large pieces to reduce the risk of injury.

Home Decor

If you feel creative, wood chips can be used in many ways for home decor. For example, if you are using artificial or dry flowers, you can use chips to stabilise them. They can also be used to make furniture or other works of art.

Temporary Erosion Control

Wood chips can be a good temporary fix for any erosion issue you may have in your garden. They can give you time to address the issue with a long-term solution without letting it get out of control. This will limit soil loss, especially if there is heavy rain why you discuss a solution with a landscaper.

Fuel

Like any wood products, wood chips can be used as fire starters for small, controlled fires. It’s perfect if you have a fireplace or biomass boiler. Make sure the wood chips are dry and free of dirt or stones. Smaller chips will be easier to burn.