Wood Chips in an Urban Garden (brochure) |
| What are wood chips? |
| Wood chips come from fallen trees, pruning, and are a byproduct of sawmills. They are produced when wood is run through a machine that chops it into small pieces. |
| Why should I use wood chips? |
| - Wood chips prevent "crusting" (hardening) of soil, conserve moisture, reduce weeds, moderate temperature, and prevent erosion. |
| - They are decorative and add interest to your yard. Chips can be purchased in a variety of sizes, colors and textures. |
| - Using them improves the environment in two ways: |
(1) they would otherwise take up valuable landfill space, and |
(2) wood chips eventually break down, adding organic matter and providing essential nutrients for your soil |
| How and where do I use wood chips? |
| MULCH. Wood chips hold moisture so you water less often. |
Layer wood chips 2" thick in flowerbeds and gardens. |
Spread chips evenly around plants, being careful not to disturb new seedlings. |
Keep chips several inches away from young tree trunks to prevent rodents and insects from harming the bark. |
Hint: red cedar chips, besides smelling good, keep bugs away. |
| WALKWAYS. Need a garden pathway? Consider wood chips instead of concrete. They provide a soft walking surface that can be moved if your garden design changes. |
Remove 2-6" of soil and spread a 2" layer of wood chips. |
Hint: when removing sod, use the plugs to fill in bare spots in your lawn. |
| PLAYGROUNDS. Soil around swing sets or backyard play equipment becomes hard over time because it is walked on and compressed. Wood chips are an inexpensive alternative to sand in these areas. |
Remove 4-6" of soil and fill in with chips. |
| DESIGN A NEW GAREN. Pick a spot where you want to establish a new garden. |
Remove 4-5" of soil and fill with wood chips. As the chips break down and decompose, they release nitrogen into the soil and it eventually becomes very fertile. |
| ROW COVER. Worried about protecting strawberry plants during the winter? Hay or straw can contain weed seeds, so consider this option. |
Spread a row cover* over the strawberry bed and cover with a thin layer of chips. Be sure to remove the cover on those early spring days when temperatures rise! |
(*Row cover is a light plastic that allows moisture and oxygen to reach your plants. It is often referred to as a weed block and is available at your local garden center.) |
| SURROUND THE BIRD FEEDER. Birds are messy eaters and often scatter seed around hanging or ground feeders. Some of these seeds sprout in your lawn. |
Remove sod from under the bird feeder, and fill the area with wood chips. Dropped birdseed will have a hard time rooting. |
| COMPOST. If you have chips left over after your project, compost them! They take longer to break down than other compost materials but the final product has a fantastic texture. |
| Things to remember about using wood chips: |
| Use in a well-drained area. Places that typically stay wet as they will stay even wetter when covered with chips. |
| - Too much water, like runoff from the eaves of your house, will float your chips away. |
| - Do NOT use pressure treated wood. It has been treated with chemicals that can be harmful to plants, insects, and YOU! |
| - Most wood chips decompose every year or two and need to be replaced. In areas where you want a more permanent solution, put down a layer of black plastic before spreading the wood chips. |
| Where can I get wood chips? |
| You can buy them, but you can also get them F-R-E-E! Pick up an unlimited supply at one of Tulsa’s two sites. |
3300 N. Yale Ave. (just north of Highway 11) OR |
71st Street and the Arkansas River Bank (west bank - north of 71st) |
Open 7 days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. |
| On the second weekend of each month, City personnel will be on hand to help load truck beds and trailers. |
HAPPY CHIPPING! |