What to Do with Wood Chips (5 Pro Tips for Arborists)

Transforming wood chips from a disposal headache into a valuable resource can dramatically improve your efficiency and profitability, whether you’re an arborist, a landscaper, or simply someone who enjoys working with wood. I’ve spent years in the field, from felling trees in the Pacific Northwest to processing firewood in the Northeast, and I’ve learned firsthand the incredible potential hidden within those piles of seemingly useless wood chips. My goal is to share my experiences and provide you with practical, actionable advice to make the most of this often-overlooked byproduct.

What to Do with Wood Chips: 5 Pro Tips for Arborists (and Everyone Else!)

Wood chips are more than just waste. They’re a versatile material that can be used in numerous ways, saving you money, improving your soil, and even generating income. In this guide, I’ll share five pro tips that I’ve learned over the years for effectively utilizing wood chips.

1. Understanding Wood Chips: A Foundation for Success

Before we dive into specific uses, let’s establish a solid understanding of what wood chips are and their inherent properties. This knowledge will help you choose the right application for the right type of chip.

What Are Wood Chips?

Wood chips are small to medium-sized pieces of wood produced by chipping larger pieces of wood, such as tree branches, logs, or even construction debris. The size and composition of wood chips can vary significantly depending on the type of wood, the chipping machine used, and the specific application.

Green Wood vs. Seasoned Wood

One of the most crucial distinctions to understand is the difference between green wood and seasoned wood.

• Green Wood: This refers to freshly cut wood that still contains a high moisture content (often above 30%). Green wood chips are excellent for certain applications like mulching and composting, where the moisture helps break down the material.
• Seasoned Wood: This is wood that has been allowed to dry, reducing its moisture content (typically below 20%). Seasoned wood chips are better suited for fuel or pathways where you want to minimize decomposition and odor.

I remember one time, I used green alder wood chips to create a pathway. Within a few weeks, the smell was unbearable, and the chips were rapidly decomposing into a slimy mess. That’s when I learned the hard way about the importance of using seasoned chips for pathways!

Wood Chip Types and Their Properties

The type of wood significantly impacts the properties of the resulting chips.

• Hardwood Chips (Oak, Maple, Ash): Generally denser and more durable, hardwood chips decompose slower and are better for pathways, playgrounds, and long-term mulching.
• Softwood Chips (Pine, Fir, Spruce): Softwood chips decompose faster and are more acidic, making them suitable for mulching acid-loving plants like blueberries and rhododendrons. However, they can be less durable for pathways.
• Mixed Wood Chips: This is the most common type, consisting of a mixture of hardwood and softwood. They offer a balance of durability and decomposition.

Tool Specification: For chipping, I generally use a Vermeer BC1000XL brush chipper. It handles up to 12-inch diameter branches and produces consistent chip sizes. The key is to maintain sharp blades for efficient chipping and uniform chip size. Dull blades create uneven chips and strain the machine.

Data Insight: A study by the University of Washington found that hardwood chips retain their volume 2-3 times longer than softwood chips when used as mulch.

2. Mulching: The Classic Wood Chip Application

Mulching is arguably the most common and beneficial use for wood chips. It’s a simple way to improve soil health, suppress weeds, and conserve moisture.

Benefits of Wood Chip Mulch

• Weed Suppression: A thick layer of wood chips blocks sunlight, preventing weed seeds from germinating.
• Moisture Retention: Wood chips reduce evaporation from the soil surface, keeping plants hydrated for longer periods.
• Soil Temperature Regulation: Mulch insulates the soil, protecting plant roots from extreme temperature fluctuations.
• Soil Enrichment: As wood chips decompose, they add organic matter to the soil, improving its structure and fertility.
• Erosion Control: Mulch helps prevent soil erosion from wind and rain.

How to Apply Wood Chip Mulch

1. Prepare the Area: Remove any existing weeds or debris from the area you want to mulch.
2. Apply a Thick Layer: Spread a 3-4 inch layer of wood chips evenly over the soil surface.
3. Keep Away from Stems: Avoid piling mulch directly against plant stems or tree trunks, as this can promote rot. Leave a few inches of space around the base of the plant.
4. Replenish as Needed: Over time, wood chips will decompose and settle. Replenish the mulch layer as needed to maintain its effectiveness.

Case Study: I once worked on a project where we used wood chip mulch to rehabilitate a severely eroded hillside. Within a year, the mulch had significantly reduced erosion, and native plants were beginning to re-establish themselves.

Specific Details: When mulching around vegetable gardens, I prefer using hardwood chips that have been aged for at least six months. This reduces the risk of nitrogen depletion in the soil, which can occur when fresh wood chips decompose.

Choosing the Right Wood Chips for Mulching

• Acid-Loving Plants: Softwood chips (pine, fir) are ideal for acid-loving plants like azaleas, rhododendrons, and blueberries.
• General Use: Mixed wood chips are suitable for most plants and gardens.
• Avoid Diseased Wood: Never use wood chips from trees that are known to be diseased, as this can spread the disease to your plants.

Measurement: For effective weed suppression, a minimum mulch depth of 3 inches is recommended.

3. Composting: Accelerating Decomposition with Wood Chips

Wood chips can be a valuable addition to your compost pile, providing carbon and helping to balance the nitrogen-rich materials.

The Role of Wood Chips in Composting

• Carbon Source: Wood chips are a rich source of carbon, which is essential for a healthy compost pile.
• Aeration: Wood chips help to create air pockets in the compost pile, promoting aerobic decomposition.
• Moisture Regulation: Wood chips can help to absorb excess moisture in the compost pile, preventing it from becoming anaerobic.

How to Use Wood Chips in Composting

1. Layering: Alternate layers of green materials (grass clippings, vegetable scraps) and brown materials (wood chips, leaves) in your compost pile.
2. Chop or Shred: Smaller wood chips decompose faster. Consider using a chipper/shredder to reduce the size of the chips before adding them to the compost pile.
3. Moisture: Keep the compost pile moist, but not soggy.
4. Turn Regularly: Turning the compost pile helps to aerate it and speed up the decomposition process.

Original Insight: I’ve found that adding a small amount of nitrogen fertilizer to the compost pile along with the wood chips can significantly accelerate the decomposition process.

Tool Specifications: A good compost thermometer is essential for monitoring the temperature of your compost pile. Aim for a temperature range of 130-160°F (54-71°C) for optimal decomposition.

Benefits: Composting wood chips not only reduces waste but also creates a valuable soil amendment that can improve soil health and plant growth.

4. Pathways and Ground Cover: Creating Functional and Attractive Surfaces

Wood chips can be used to create attractive and functional pathways and ground cover in your garden or landscape.

Benefits of Wood Chip Pathways

• Natural Look: Wood chips create a natural and rustic look that blends well with the surrounding environment.
• Weed Suppression: Wood chips help to suppress weeds, reducing the need for herbicides.
• Drainage: Wood chips allow water to drain freely, preventing puddles and muddy areas.
• Cost-Effective: Wood chips are often a free or low-cost material, making them an affordable option for pathways.

How to Create Wood Chip Pathways

1. Prepare the Area: Remove any existing vegetation and debris from the area where you want to create the pathway.
2. Define the Edges: Use edging materials (rocks, wood, plastic) to define the edges of the pathway.
3. Apply a Thick Layer: Spread a 4-6 inch layer of wood chips evenly over the pathway surface.
4. Compact the Chips: Use a roller or tamper to compact the wood chips, creating a more stable surface.
5. Replenish as Needed: Over time, wood chips will decompose and settle. Replenish the pathway as needed to maintain its appearance and functionality.

Personalized Story: I once built a wood chip pathway through a heavily wooded area on my property. It not only provided a convenient way to access the back of my property but also created a beautiful and inviting space.

Wood Type Selections: For pathways, I recommend using hardwood chips, as they are more durable and decompose slower than softwood chips. I prefer oak or maple for high-traffic areas.

Challenges Faced by Global DIYers: In areas with heavy rainfall, it’s important to ensure proper drainage to prevent the pathway from becoming waterlogged. Consider installing a drainage system or using a more porous base material.

5. Fuel: Turning Wood Chips into Energy

While not always the most efficient fuel source, wood chips can be used as fuel for heating or power generation, especially in specialized equipment.

Wood Chips as a Biomass Fuel

• Renewable Energy: Wood chips are a renewable energy source, as trees can be replanted and regrown.
• Carbon Neutral: When burned, wood chips release carbon dioxide that was absorbed from the atmosphere during their growth, making them carbon neutral.
• Waste Reduction: Using wood chips as fuel reduces waste and diverts them from landfills.

How to Use Wood Chips as Fuel

1. Drying: Wood chips must be properly dried before they can be used as fuel. Aim for a moisture content of 20% or less.
2. Storage: Store dried wood chips in a dry, well-ventilated area to prevent them from reabsorbing moisture.
3. Burning: Wood chips can be burned in specialized wood chip boilers, furnaces, or stoves.

Strategic Advantages: Using wood chips as fuel can reduce your reliance on fossil fuels and lower your energy costs.

Technical Details: The energy content of wood chips varies depending on the type of wood and its moisture content. Generally, one ton of dry wood chips contains approximately 16 million BTU of energy.

Cost: The cost of wood chip heating systems can vary widely depending on the size and complexity of the system. However, the long-term cost savings can often offset the initial investment.

Safety Considerations: When storing and handling wood chips, be aware of the risk of spontaneous combustion. Ensure adequate ventilation and avoid storing wood chips near sources of heat.

Original Case Study: I consulted on a project for a small sawmill that was using wood chips to generate electricity to power its operations. The system not only reduced the sawmill’s energy costs but also created a new revenue stream by selling excess electricity back to the grid.

Chainsaws, Axes, Log Splitters: While not directly used for burning wood chips, these tools are essential for producing the raw materials that are then chipped. I rely on a Stihl MS 462 R C-M chainsaw for felling trees and a Husqvarna 27-ton log splitter for processing firewood.

Drying Methods: Air drying is the most common method for drying wood chips. Spread the chips in a thin layer in a sunny, well-ventilated area and turn them regularly. Kiln drying is a faster but more expensive option.

Skill Levels Required: Using wood chips as fuel requires some technical knowledge and experience. It’s important to understand the operation of your heating system and to properly maintain it.

Conclusion: Embracing the Potential of Wood Chips

Wood chips are a valuable resource that can be used in a variety of ways. By understanding their properties and applying the pro tips I’ve shared, you can transform this often-overlooked byproduct into a valuable asset. Whether you’re mulching your garden, composting your food scraps, creating pathways, or generating energy, wood chips offer a sustainable and cost-effective solution. Don’t let those wood chips go to waste – start exploring their potential today!

Practical Next Steps:

1. Assess Your Wood Chip Supply: Determine the volume and type of wood chips you have available.
2. Identify Your Needs: Consider how you can best utilize wood chips in your garden, landscape, or energy system.
3. Start Small: Begin with a small-scale project to gain experience and refine your techniques.
4. Experiment and Learn: Don’t be afraid to experiment with different uses and techniques to find what works best for you.
5. Share Your Knowledge: Share your experiences and knowledge with others to help them discover the potential of wood chips.

By embracing the potential of wood chips, you can not only improve your own operations but also contribute to a more sustainable and resource-efficient future. I encourage you to take the first step today and unlock the hidden value within those piles of wood chips!

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