Spreading wood chips

[Sawyer Rob]

They won't last 5 years here, even the landscapers, have to pull them back out and replace them every few years...

I shoveled out a wagon body yesterday that had left over chips in, that I haven't cleaned out in a few years, all of the lower layer was black slippery mud...

I see them dump chips at tractor shows too, and they have to replace them for the same reason...

Maybe we get more moisture than you guys?

SR

 

[robstaples]

I covered a limestone base construction road with wood chips to make it look more environmental. After three years, I had a contact crane get stuck on a slight incline. I had to remove all the chips and replaced with more limestone. Walking trail and low traction requirements , it’s great. May all depend on moisture level and flatness of trail. Here, Michigan, three inches down probably never dries.

 

[Bendboater]

Thank you to all for your comments and thoughts. Great group.
It sounds like my bucket will do "good enough".
Yes, wood rots on the ground. But here in the high desert it takes a long time because it's soooooo dry.

 

[Gem99ultra]

They won't last 5 years here, even the landscapers, have to pull them back out and replace them every few years...

I shoveled out a wagon body yesterday that had left over chips in, that I haven't cleaned out in a few years, all of the lower layer was black slippery mud...

I see them dump chips at tractor shows too, and they have to replace them for the same reason...

Maybe we get more moisture than you guys?

SR

I'm sure you're right about you having more moisture up north than we do down here in the south. And that, of course, would account for the length of time for the chips to disintegrate. I can only vouch for 4 years so far, but they're still good to walk on or for the SxS to drive over.

I suspect that you were expecting the chips to serve as a permanent base. I only wanted one that would be nice for a few years. I think we're both right, i.e. they'll last for a while, especially for light traffic, but certainly not a decent replacement for limestone, concrete, asphalt, etc..

For my use, i.e. walking trails, surrounds for azaleas, flower beds, etc., they're perfect, and at the right price. For a driveway... not so much.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I just don't like to have to scrape them all off later and having to replace them! That's just double the work and I already have enough of that. lol

Heck, we compost out, wood chips for the gardens and if they didn't break down fairly fast, they wouldn't be useful for compost...

SR

 

[Ortimber]

Thank you to all for your comments and thoughts. Great group.
It sounds like my bucket will do "good enough".
Yes, wood rots on the ground. But here in the high desert it takes a long time because it's soooooo dry.

The only thing I don't like about wood chips on a road is they burn. In my neck of the woods, I try to keep my roads cleaned off which helps create fire breaks.

 

[Bendboater]

The only thing I don't like about wood chips on a road is they burn. In my neck of the woods, I try to keep my roads cleaned off which helps create fire breaks.

Good point Ortimber.

 

[herm0016]

you should check out chip drop. i have used the service many times and i have paid very little for great mulch, about 50 yards so far. Here, mulch lasts many years due to the dry climate.

search for the website, chipdrop.com and sign up, local arborists will come by after a job and dump the chips they normally have to pay to get rid of. everyone wins.

 

[Bendboater]

you should check out chip drop. i have used the service many times and i have paid very little for great mulch, about 50 yards so far. Here, mulch lasts many years due to the dry climate.

search for the website, chipdrop.com and sign up, local arborists will come by after a job and dump the chips they normally have to pay to get rid of. everyone wins.

Herm0016,
Yes, I suspect your climate is similar to our's, "dry".....even when raining....which is seldom.
Thanks for the link to chipdrop.

 

[Fuddy1952]

A woodcutting company does our local power company limbing and tree cutting, then through a chipper which they were happy to dump in a big pile on my place.
I was surprised loading onto a wagon how much it was smoking (composting). Mostly cedar and pine chips.
One big pile last year a pushed pumpkin seeds into it and had lots of pumpkins in Fall.