Published
When branches go through a chipper, what comes out is a mix of chipped wood, bark and leaves, often called arborist mulch. It’s one of the best free things you can put on a Perth garden, as long as it goes in the right places.
Why it’s worth keeping
- It holds water in the soil. A good layer shades the soil and slows evaporation through a Perth summer.
- It keeps weeds down. Weed seeds struggle to get through a thick layer.
- It feeds the soil. As it breaks down, it feeds worms and soil life and slowly improves sandy soil.
- It’s free. If you’re having tree work done anyway, keeping the mulch saves you buying it and saves the cost of carting it away.
Where it works best
- Around established trees and shrubs. This is where fresh chip really shines.
- On paths and around sheds. It makes a soft, weed-suppressing surface.
- On top of garden beds. Spread it over the soil, not dug in.
How deep?
A layer about 5 to 10 centimetres deep does the job. Much thinner and weeds push through; much thicker and water struggles to reach the soil.
What to keep it away from
- Stems and trunks. Leave a gap of a hand’s width around the base of trees and shrubs, so the bark stays dry.
- House walls. Keep a clear strip between the mulch and your walls and timber structures.
- Young seedlings and vegie beds. Fresh chip can hold on to nitrogen right at the soil surface while it starts to break down. It isn’t a problem on top of established plants, but for vegies and seedlings, let it sit in a heap for a few months first.
Don’t dig it in
The nitrogen issue only really happens when fresh chip is mixed into the soil. As a top layer, it breaks down from the bottom up and feeds the soil as it goes.
How much will you get?
A lot less than the pile of branches you started with. Loose branches are mostly air, so chipping shrinks a big heap down to a much smaller one.
Getting it done
We chip branches on site and leave the mulch where you want it, or take it away. See tree mulching and chipping, or request a quote.