What

  • Wood chips of various species (no thorns or vines)

  • Composed of wood, bark, and leafy material and some sticks

  • Garbage free

  • 8 to 16 yards are delivered per load (small loads can be accommodated for people willing to wait).

When

  • Wait time depends on location and season. Usually chips can be delivered within a week, but can take up to a month.

Why

Mulch in general is an excellent resource for gardens and many other landscape uses. It provides:

  • temperature regulation

  • moisture retention

  • nutrient cycling

  • weed suppression

  • protection from mechanical damage.

Most of the mulch you see in landscapes is dyed and processed. Arborist chip is different in that it is made by tree companies as a byproduct of pruning and tree removal work. The resulting material is different from processed mulch in a few ways:

  • Better performance compared to yard wastes, bark, composts, leaves, grass clippings, and wood chips

  • Less compaction compared to sawdust and bark

  • Locally sourced

  • More sustainable (less shipping, processing, etc.)

  • Cheaper

Cost

  • $30 per delivery

Alternatives

  • Processed landscape mulches can be delivered for clients who place high priority on a colored, uniform appearance. These products can be over $30-$40 per yard, with additional delivery costs.

  • getchipdrop.com is a website that pairs people seeking wood chips with arborists who have them. They do have a free option for people willing to wait, otherwise they charge $20 per load. Loads frequently contain trash, thorns, vines, or larger logs.

References

  1. “Wood chip mulch: Landscape boon or bane?” by Linda Chalker-Scott, Ph.D. https://wpcdn.web.wsu.edu/wp-puyallup/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/wood-chips.pdf

  2. “Horticultural Myths”; Washington State University Extension - Linda Chalker-Scott https://puyallup.wsu.edu/lcs/