Are Wood Chips Good Ground Cover

Most problems from using wood chips result from mulching too deeply.

Are wood chips good ground cover.

I have found that 2 3 is just right for wood chip mulch. Compare the benefits of both and see which one is best for you. Both mulch and ground cover plants have their good and not so good points. It is essential that wood chips be used properly.

These organic chips also attract earthworms and tend to create healthy fungi and bacterial growth. For example many types of wood chips and bark chips need to be replaced every few months because the wood s color fades. Using locally produced wood chips is a sustainable activity keeping a useful product out of the landfill which is both environmentally and economically a good thing. Because wood chips are natural they contribute a lot of nutrients to surrounding soil.

Rock based ground covers are low maintenance because they aren t alive. Using wood chips mulch or bark dust as playground bedding is a messy and splinter filled option. They do break down rather quickly and will settle after a few weeks. If you live in a region with the regular threat of cold extremes save up your wood chips and use them as insulation on the sides and bottom of your cold frame.

Properly using wood chips as a mulch or to cover. Towns and cities often have a mulch program where you can pick up your. He uses the chips as mulch under shrubs and trees in the back yard as ground cover in the dog kennel and as filler for the ruts under his suv. Wood chips decompose over time sending nutrients to the ground while strengthening soil structure and improving aeration.

In order to get the optimum benefits from wood chips they can be applied at a depth of 4 to 6 inches. My neighbor kim has an area that isn t paved where he parks the family s second vehicle. Wood chips also regulate soil temperatures bring a natural feel to an area and can serve as path material to prevent muddy or dusty conditions. Even after the ground freezes the wood chips will help protect the roots of your winter harvest vegetables and prolong your growing season.

Okay now that we have that out of our system here are 5 reasons why you shouldn t use playground wood chips or mulch. Wood chips also help in winter gardening. They are a mess. As i mentioned of all the types of mulch we have used we have found wood chips to be the most unforgiving.

Here we re talking about tree bark chips or shredded bark mulch that comes in bags sold by garden centers.