Wood chip mulch is an easy way to recycle yard waste while protecting plants and trees and improving your landscaping. Basically, it consists of turning things like branches, prunings, and scraps into mulch with a wood chipper. Using this kind of natural, cost-effective mulch can help with everything from moisture retention to weed suppression. In this guide, I’ll walk you through creating and using wood chip mulch, from choosing the right equipment to applying it in your garden.
What Is Wood Chip Mulch?
Wood chip mulch is a versatile landscaping material made from shredded tree branches, limbs, and other woody debris. Unlike bark mulch, which is typically produced at lumber mills, you can easily make wood chip mulch at home with the right equipment. This type of mulch offers several advantages for garden beds and landscaped areas, like moisture retention in soil, weed impression, temperature regulation for roots, and slow nutrient release, which can improve soil structure over time.
Which Types of Wood are Suitable for Mulch?
Not all wood is created equal when it comes to mulch. I recommend using things like deciduous tree branches, conifer branches (pine, spruce, fir), fruit tree prunings, and clean, untreated lumber scraps. Avoid using wood from diseased trees, pressure-treated lumber, or wood containing harmful chemicals, like wood that’s been previously painted or stained.
Equipment for Making Wood Chip Mulch
To create wood chip mulch at home, you need the right equipment. The main tool to have is a wood chipper or shredder, which you can either buy or rent.
Choosing the Right Wood Chipper
Wood chippers come in various sizes and capacities. For most homeowners, a smaller portable model that can handle branches up to 2 to 3 inches in diameter is sufficient. Rent these from local hardware stores or equipment rental companies. For larger jobs involving limbs up to 6 inches in diameter, you may want to opt for a trailer-mounted chipper. These larger models typically require a vehicle with a trailer hitch for transport.
Safety should always be a top priority when operating a wood chipper. Make sure to have safety gear such as safety glasses or goggles, work gloves, ear protection, closed-toe sturdy shoes, long pants, and a long-sleeved shirt.
Additional Tools
While the wood chipper is the main piece of equipment, having additional tools can make the process smoother, like loppers for cutting branches to size, a rake for gathering debris, and a wheelbarrow or garden cart for transporting wood chips.
The Wood Chipping Process
Creating wood chip mulch is a straightforward process, but it requires attention to detail and safety precautions. Here’s how to do it.
1. Prepare the Materials
Before beginning, gather all the woody debris to be chipped. Remove any leaves, twigs, or non-woody material for the best quality mulch. Sort branches by size so you can feed them into the chipper more easily.
2. Safely Operate the Wood Chipper
Start by setting up the chipper on level ground in an open area. Once you start the machine, allow it to reach full speed before feeding it material. Feed branches into the hopper, thick end first, using a wooden stick to guide smaller pieces into the chipper. Always keep your hands and feet away from the feed chute at all times.
3. Create Uniform Mulch
For more consistent mulch, feed similar-sized branches together and remove side twigs before chipping. You can also double-grind the chips if you want a finer texture or mix in a small amount of cedar chips to make them smell nice.
4. Best Practices
To maintain equipment health, choose dry, seasoned wood to prevent clogging and avoid overloading the chipper. You’ll also want to regularly check the blades and sharpen or replace them as needed. Finally, make sure you take breaks to prevent overheating the machine
Aging and Storing Wood Chip Mulch
Freshly chipped wood can be used immediately in some garden applications, but aging the mulch can provide additional benefits. Aging wood chips for several months to a year can reduce the risk of nitrogen depletion in soil, allow partial decomposition, make nutrients more readily available, and soften the texture of the mulch.
To age wood chips effectively, store them in a well-drained area in a pile no more than 4 feet high. You should turn the pile occasionally to promote even decomposition and cover it with a tarp during heavy rains to stop it from getting waterlogged.
To optimize the aging process, mix in green materials like grass clippings to speed up decomposition and monitor moisture levels, keeping the pile slightly damp but not wet. You can also add compost starters or organic fertilizers to enrich the mulch.
How To Apply Wood Chip Mulch in Your Garden
Proper application of wood chip mulch means it’ll help your garden instead of hurting it. To prevent rot and pest problems, avoid piling mulch against tree trunks or plant stems. Instead, keep it a few inches away from them to give them breathing room.
The depth of mulch application depends on the area. Around trees and shrubs, apply it 3 to 4 inches deep. In flower beds, 2 to 3 inches deep, and in vegetable gardens, 1 to 2 inches deep.
Apply wood chip mulch in spring after the soil has warmed, in fall to insulate plant roots for winter, or at any time to suppress weeds and retain moisture. Refresh mulch annually or as needed to maintain the desired depth.
Tips for Effective Mulching
To get the most out of your wood chip mulch, create a mulch ring around the base of trees, avoiding direct contact with the trunk. Use mulch to create pathways in the garden, providing a natural, attractive walkway. Always incorporate a weed barrier beneath mulch in high-weed areas for added protection.
When it comes to handling the wood chips, use a shovel or rake to move the chips, not your hands—always wear gloves to protect against splinters. Be aware of the potential for heat buildup in large piles
What Are the Environmental Impact of Wood Chip Mulch?
Using wood chip mulch from yard waste is an environmentally friendly practice that offers several benefits. You can reduce waste by diverting organic matter from landfills, and reduce the need for commercial mulch products. Your soil health will improve as the organic matter decomposes. This supports beneficial soil microorganisms and improves soil structure. Finally, wood chip mulch can foster biodiversity in your garden, providing a habitat for beneficial insects, earthworms, and fungi that can aid plant health.
