I buy wood chips and mulch in bulk form, and have them delivered early each season to a corner of my garden. After researching the topic of firewood and the importance of not bringing in wood from the outside that has not been kiln-dried or heat treated, it got me thinking about wood chips.
According to several landscaping professionals in my local area in Dutchess County, NY, you should stay away from wood chips and mulch obtained at the local transfer stations. The reason is that you don't know where the wood is coming from and it can present the following problems:
- wood chips can contain disease spoors and invasive insect larvae that you would be bringing into your ecosystem at home. In my area a relatively new disease is killing our beautiful American beech trees. If an infected, dead American beech tree is cut down and ground into mulch or wood chips, you risk bringing that disease onto your property.
- wood chips can contain construction debris, old wood palettes and garbage that has been ground down. Land clearing companies will scoop up everything and grind it down for mulch and wood chips. Be wary of that. We got a delivery of mulch once that had plastic bottles and metals cans mixed in with it.
The heating process that occurs naturally with wood chips that have been aged over a period of time will kill diseases and insect larvae. If you buy from a reputable garden center or landscaper you should be able to find out where their product comes from. Ask them if it was aged and if it is a result of grinding down trees only, not construction debris and palettes. If they can't answer those questions go elsewhere. Wood mulch is a result of wood chips that have been ground down further, and the same questions apply.
Wood chips and mulch that you buy in bags does not have living organisms in it so it should be ok. I dislike the plastic bags, though.
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