Using Wood Chips as Mulch: Best Practices

Wood chips excel as mulch under trees, shrubs, and on paths—apply 4 inches to settle to 2 inches. For future garden beds, a 12-inch layer left to decompose for two years creates rich, black soil. However, for flowers and vegetables, limit chips to 1 inch; deeper layers decompose slowly and can tie up nitrogen if tilled in. For your friend's beds, a one-time tilling with 2 inches of compost is better than thick wood chips.