How to use woodchip in your garden

The benefits of woodchip

Woodchip is small bits of wood that you can use as an organic layer, or mulch, or as compost. There are lots of benefits to using woodchip in these ways:

• it’s 100% organic and natural
• it’s great at retaining water – helping your soils stay moist by trapping water and stopping it from evaporating, which helps your plants stay healthy
• it slows down weeds – the layer of woodchip stops light from getting to weeds
• it can act as a slow fertiliser – when woodchips rot over time, they feed the soil
• it protects against the weather, helping to keep a more consistent temperature in your plant beds throughout the seasons, keeping them cooler in summer and warmer in winter
• it can help fight off pests and diseases
• it can be made from leftover recycled wood, so we're reducing our waste
• it can be easily made at home if you have enough wood, or else, you could pick up from a local arborist

Where to get woodchip from

As long as you don't dig deep into your soil, you can use any species of tree to create woodchip. This includes broadleaves, like oak and lime trees, or conifers, like pine trees.

While they won’t harm your more mature plants, it’s better to avoid using chippings from big, old trees on beds with young plants or seedlings.

Very small pieces of wood, like twigs, can either be shredded or used right away as a mulch. Bigger pieces of wood may need to be broken down with a woodchipper.

If you don’t have any trees in your garden to make your own woodchip, you can source it from local tree surgeons, often for free. 

How to use woodchip as a mulch

To mulch your soil, spread a layer of 3 to 5 inches of woodchip over the top of the soil that you want to feed. You can top up with thinner layers over time if needed.

Though you can add woodchip to your garden at any point, it’s best to do it before weeds are in abundance. Apply it to your grounds between autumn and early spring if you can.

Top tips:

• use a pipe to make sure water can get through thick mulch
• leave a clear ring around trees to prevent moisture causing disease on the bark.

How to use woodchip as compost

You can use woodchip to nourish your soils, too, by using it as a compost.

Firstly, you’ll need your woodchip to decompose. The smaller the woodchips, the quicker this process will take. It's best to collect from tiny branches and hedge trimmings, as these will break down more quickly than larger bits of wood.

Well-rotted woodchip will boost the organic matter in the soil. This, in turn, feeds fungi and earthworms and all the other organisms within the soil, which will encourage healthier plants.

For the best results, leave your woodchip to compost for 6 to 12 months before adding it to your soil.

If you compost your woodchip for even longer, up to 18 months, and sieve it, you can use it as a propagation and potting compost.

How to use woodchip for potted plants

Woodchip works very well within containers and plant pots, which can be placed inside or outside the home.

As a mulch, it’s great for controlling weeds and retaining moisture in the compost, which means you likely won’t have to water them as much. This will save you time and help your plants flourish throughout the year.

There are a couple of extra considerations when applying woodchip to potted plants, whether as a mulch or compost. It’s important that:

• you consider the depth and width of the container. For instance, use smaller woodchips for smaller pots, as there’s less space within the pot to work with
• if you are using freshly chipped material, you may need to apply some additional foliar feed to prevent nitrogen robbing, which can be a problem in larger pots.

For more ways to use woodchip at home read The Woodchip Manual by Ben Raskin, our Head of Horticulture.