Using Wood Chips As Mulch
Should I add a layer of compost first.
Using wood chips as mulch. And if the driveway did not get too many ruts in it and if the wood chips didnt just sink down into the mud and ifwell maybe a stone base would work better than free wood chips. Temperature moderation Wood chips block the sun and help keep the soil cool. Applied correctly mulch suppresses weed growth keeps water in your soil and regulates soil temperatures.
Using wood chips as mulch is definitely beneficial especially if you are trying to use this on trees or shrubs. Chunky wood chips often come from natural sources like trimmed trees. There are certain trees that do an excellent job of repelling pests naturally.
There are three primary concerns about the effect that using fresh wood chips as mulch will have on plants. They work well to suppress weeds retain moisture and slowly compost in place. Smarter use of your free mulch I my opinion.
This is an important question and is essential to your success in using wood chips as a mulch in your vegetable garden. Disease-prone plants including roses and tomatoes are easily overcome by fungal spores that like to hide and grow inside wood chip mulch. Use a three-inch layer of wood chips for optimal effectiveness.
It is essential that wood chips be used properly. The wood chips might be better used on your garden and around your fruit trees. And it costs a bit more too.
If it is kept moist its unlikely to combust. As someone who has been using wood chip mulch a la back-to-eden for the last 7 years I concur. So depending on how the trees were harvested it might not be as earth-friendly as mulch.