It really is easy to get free wood chips to use as mulch for your gardens to keep weeds from taking over.
In this post, I’ll share a few tips on how to find free wood chips so you can save a lot of time and money!
Wood chips are small pieces of wood that are cut or chipped from trees, or larger wooden products – like boards and plywood.
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There are lots of different types of wood chips, such as forest chips, sawdust, and bark chips.
With so many benefits, wood chips can be used in so many ways in your lawn or garden.
This includes:
- As mulch for gardens: Wood chips are good to use as mulch around your garden. They can help the soil retain its moisture, promote the healthy development of plants, suppress weeds, help to keep the soil warm and protect plants and soil from extremely low temperatures or snow.
- For creating garden paths and walkways: Wood chips are sometimes used to create walkways and paths in gardens.
- As compost: Wood chips can also be used to make compost. They can enhance the quality of your soil. They are a great source of carbon – an important nutrient for soil.
- For making raised beds: Wood chips can be used when you want to create plant beds. They can be added as part of the brown layer when you build compost for raised bed gardens.
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Where Can I Get Free Wood Chips Near Me?
Here’s my list of easy ways to get free wood chips near you!
1. ChipDrop
Get free wood chips delivered right to you with ChipDrop.
The company helps gardeners and lawn workers to find free wood chip mulch nearby.
ChipDrop finds tree companies working near you and notifies them that you’re looking for some wood chips. When their truck is next full, they get your information from ChipDrop and deliver the wood chips right to your driveway – even if you are at work!
2. Woodworkers
Woodworkers, like carpenters, woodcarvers, furniture makers, and cabinet makers, produce a lot of wood chips, sawdust, and shavings as part of their job. You can use these materials in your garden.
Get in touch with local woodworkers to ask if they have any wood chips, sawdust, or shavings that they’d be willing to give to you. Just offer to pick up the wood scraps yourself. They’ll likely be happy to have you take it off their hands!
3. Arborists and tree companies
Tree companies and arborists have a lot of wood and wood chips from the trees they chop. Ask them if they would be willing to give you any wood or wood chips. Some may deliver wood chips to you.
4. Wood-working classes
Research woodworking classes or workshops in your area. These can be a good source of wood waste like wood chips, sawdust, and shavings.
5. Craigslist
Get free wood chips on Craigslist. You can find anything for free on Craigslist really! Just head on over to the “For Sale” section on Craigslist. Under that, click on “Free.”
This will show you free stuff nearby. Type “wood chips” into the search bar to find what you’re looking for.
6. Utility companies
Electric companies and other utility companies are worth checking with to get wood chips. Often these companies need to clear branches near their lines.
You can call local energy providers to ask them who they contract to trim trees. They may give you the number so you can then call the tree trimming company directly.
Another option is to check the websites of utility companies to see if they have any local mulch distribution programs – some of them do.
You can also ask any crews you see removing branches near power lines in your area whether they have any wood chips that they would be willing to give to you.
These companies don’t typically have a use for these wood chips. That’s why it’s worth asking them if they have any to give away.
7. Municipal Yard Waste Facilities
Some cities, towns, or counties have programs where they give away wood chips.
For example, Sacramento, California Neighborhood Beautification (SMUD), gives away free wood chips to residential customers to spread as mulch around trees and shrubs.
Research online to see if your city, town, or county has a free mulch program that offers wood chips. Search the name of your town, city, or county, followed by “free mulch program,” or “free wood chip program.”
FAQ About Wood Chips
What is the difference between wood chips and mulch?
Wood chips are a type of mulch made from shredded or chipped wood. Mulch is a broader term that includes various organic and inorganic materials used to cover soil, such as straw, leaves, bark, and wood chips.
Are wood chips safe to use in my garden?
Yes, wood chips are generally safe for use in gardens. However, it’s a good idea to let them age for a few months to avoid any potential issues with nitrogen depletion in the soil.
Can wood chips attract pests?
Fresh wood chips can sometimes attract pests like termites. To minimize this risk, you can let the chips age or compost them before using them around your home or garden.
What are the benefits of using wood chips in my garden or lawn?
Wood chips help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, regulate soil temperature, and add organic matter to the soil as they decompose. They are an excellent, cost-effective mulch for garden beds and pathways.
What type of wood chips are not good for the garden?
Avoid using wood chips from black walnut or eucalyptus trees, as they can release toxins harmful to many garden plants.
Which lasts longer, wood chips or mulch?
Wood chips generally last longer than mulch, often up to 2-3 years, due to their larger size and slower decomposition rate.
How deep should wood chips be?
Wood chips should be spread to a depth of 2-4 inches to effectively suppress weeds, retain moisture, and provide adequate insulation for the soil.
Wrap up Your Garden with Free Wood Chips!
As you can see, there are many ways to get wood chips for free. You may need to do a little bit of looking around, but at the end of the day, it is worth it.
You get to achieve your perfect garden and enhance your home’s curb appeal, all without spending a single penny by using the free wood chips you got near you using the above tips!
