I think people overcomplicate their garden paths

I kept seeing folks buy expensive gravel or pavers, but my neighbor just used free wood chips from the town's tree service. It looks soft, smells nice, and cost me zero dollars. What's the best free material you've found for your yard?

2 comments

2 Comments

finley52420d ago

Actually saw a thing online about using old cardboard boxes as a weed blocker under paths. Just lay them down flat and put wood chips or whatever on top. It's free if you save up your deliveries. That point from @danielh81 about letting chips sit is smart though, makes total sense to avoid spreading bugs. My cousin tried the fresh chips and ended up with a weird fungus all over her flower bed. So maybe the best free stuff is the free stuff you're patient with.

danielh8120d ago

Wood chips are great, but there's a catch with the free ones from tree services. They're often fresh from chipping diseased or insect-infested trees. You can accidentally bring problems right into your garden. It's better to let a pile of free chips cook down for a full season before spreading them around your plants. That heat from decomposing kills off most of the bad stuff. Just a heads up from someone who learned the hard way.