Wood Chips - What can they be used for?

Most of us associate wood chips with mulch, but there are many more potential uses for it.  In this post, we will look and see what these potential uses are. There is one caveat when it comes to using wood chips. If you have a problem with ants in your garden, you should avoid them. 

Let’s Start With Mulch

The reason that wood chips are so indelibly associated with mulch is that they work so well for this purpose. They can help protect your plants from icy temperatures and late cold snaps, help to prevent the soil from drying out too much and, when they break down, they add nutrients back into the soil.

All you have to do to get the full benefits is either dig them back in or remove them and add them to the compost. 

It should be noted that they do not release much in the way of nitrogen so you will probably need to check the nitrogen levels in the soil. 

Add it to the Compost

If you don’t need mulch, don’t automatically ditch the wood chips. They are great for use in creating the brown layer in your compost heap and adding carbon back into the soil. They also help keep the soil nice and friable. 

Fuel

Keep some on hand for your next barbeque – they work as well as standard fire lighters without the nasty chemicals. If you are really into reducing your carbon footprint, the chips can be used in a biomass reactor to fuel motors or to provide heat. 

Creating a Walkway

Paving stones are not always everyone’s cup of tea. Wood chips can be used to define a pathway in a much more natural manner. You do, however, need to employ some weed suppressing measures to make it last longer. 

It is also worth noting that the shifting, uneven surface may not be the best fit for those who have mobility issues.

For Decoration

Highlight a special bed in the garden using the chips, or use them inside to help fill out a vase of silk flowers and give them a more rustic feel. Or, alternatively, get your glue gun out and get creative at creating art for inside your house.

For Use on a Playground

These can replace crumb rubber on playgrounds and come with the added advantage that they create a non-slip and nicely padded surface. 

Halting Erosion 

Erosion can be a series issue. The chips will not provide a workable long-term solution, but they can help weight down the soil until you are able to find a better solution. They will help prevent the soil from blowing away or washing away too fast. 

And, as a bonus, they help to improve drainage in those areas at the same time. 
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So, as you can see, there are a lot of potential uses for them. Enough, in fact, to make you consider getting a wood chipper. And the fact that it is so much fun to use is just an added bonus! Check us out if you are in need of a tree cutting service you can count on!