Wood Chip Mulch
Mulching wide around your trees (and other plants) with 2 – 4 inches of organic mulch will always be preferable to a carpet of grass or weeds surrounding your trees. Scientific research has shown that mulch conserves soil moisture and reduces competition with weed and turf roots. If you want healthy trees, you need healthy soil. Healthy soils are well-aerated and have good soil structure, good soil texture, and high organic content. Proper mulching will help you achieve optimum soil conditions and improve the health of your plants.
Mulching twice a year suppresses the weeds and moderates the soil temperature which means less herbicides and less time spent weeding. That gives you more time to enjoy your beverage of choice in the midst of your garden.
You do not need to use expensive landscape fabrics or plastic packaged mulches. We can save you hundreds of dollars. We can deliver 10 – 20 cubic yards of fresh wood chips, often for free, sometimes for a small fee depending on the travel distance (usually $10 – $20).
Walking into a local natural woodland, underfoot you will find a soft, spongy mattress of forest duff. At the interface of the soil surface you will find a mixture of compost and plant material in various stages of decay. The soil below has large air spaces for good oxygen circulation and is high in fertility. You can recreate this high quality soil by mulching widely around your trees.
Give us a call or send us an email, provide your address and we’ll deliver free wood chips that you can use to improve your landscape.
Three Common Concerns About Wood Chips
Most fungi growing in wood chips are decomposers and not pathogens harmful to your trees. There’s no need to worry about tree diseases being transmitted via wood chip mulch as long as you use them as a top dressing. Never mix wood chips into the soil as a back fill. This will prevent any pathogens present from having access to the root system. Regardless, we won’t deliver wood chips that are produced from a diseased tree.
Fresh, green chips can initially tie up nitrogen close to the soil surface and therefore may not be a great choice for initially placing around vegetables or shallow-rooted annuals. For trees however, many scientific studies have shown that wood chips increase nutrient levels in the soil and improve overall soil health.
Regardless of the type of mulch used, homeowners should have regular termite inspections. Termites generally need a dark, moist environment, which a 2 – 4 inch layer of wood chips does not provide. Some mulches, like cedar (Thuja), actually act as an insect repellent. I’ve never seen termites infest wood chips in Hampton Roads. I’ve placed wood chips around my own home, and I’ve delivered them to home gardens for over twenty years. If I ever see evidence of a termite infestation in wood chip mulch, I will be sure to document the problem and amend this article.
Aesthetics of Wood Chip Mulch
Our wood chips will not be as consistent in color, size or appearance as more expensive processed mulches. If you don’t like that inconsistency you can always place wood chips down as a base layer and top dress with mulch more pleasing to your personal preference.
Proper Mulching Produces Healthier Plants
All too often I’m called to treat trees that are in a state of irreversible decline. The most significant problem our urban trees face is one of soil compaction and soil infertility. Don’t let your trees be victimized by poor soil conditions. Take a proactive approach to tree care, mulch your trees properly and they will reward you with summer shade and seasonal beauty.
Love this! My daughter’s play area is underneath a mature loblolly pine, a few mature sweetgums, a “teenage” wild cherry and redcedar. Her and all of her friends were trampling/compacting the heck out of the soil. They were having a blast but killing the grass AND the trees. I’ve put down a few loads of wood chips and its working great. The kids love it, the neighbors love it, and the trees love it!
It’s such a common sight in suburban yards, trees and grass side by side, that it seems natural to many homeowners. Yet turf and weeds growing close to your trees generates a lot of unnecessary competition for tree roots. Replacing the grass with wood chips is a smart move. The chips will decompose and improve the structure and fertility of your soil. Let us know if you need more, just remember to limit the depth of chips to 4 inches.