We Covered Half the Garden in Wood Chips (18 Month Update)

Back in 2019, we did an experiment in the garden by covering half of it with wood chips. The results have been very eye-opening! Here’s what we liked, disliked, and if we’re mulching with wood chips again this year.

As I said, in 2019 I decided to do an experiment in our garden. My husband was a bit skeptical of my idea, so we only tested half the garden to have a comparison. What was the experiment? Covering the dirt in wood chips!

Sadly, three years later, my husband and I had a bit of miscommunication after laying down woodchips in the garden. My husband, thinking he was doing what I had asked, tilled my no-till garden and now the woodchips are mixed throughout.

Watch the video here to see how we’re adjusting and moving forward!

Thanks to a love of learning, and the resources that are available at my fingertips, I’ve watched and read and researched all about adding a layer of wood chips to the garden to help with weed control.

It’s now 18 months since I initially laid the wood chips in the garden and in today’s episode of the Pioneering Today Podcast (episode #279) I’m sharing all my thoughts on this experiment. Including what I liked about it, what I would do differently, if it helped with weed control and whether I’ll be doing it again.

A plant growing in the garden surrounded with wood chips.

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In this episode:
Links mentioned in this podcast:

In this episode:

We had a very late first frost so I have just now finished wrapping up my garden and getting the garlic planted.
For over two decades we have tilled our garden yearly. This has always been our method (as well as my parent’s method) so it’s all I ever knew.
18 months ago we tried spreading wood chips over our garden.
Are we using this method again this year?
Testing our soil BEFORE laying the wood chips (see this blog post for how to test the pH of your soil).
Watch the process I used to lay the wood chips in this YouTube video.
Tips on finding wood chips for FREE to use in your garden.
Weed growth recap and how much weeding I did throughout the summer.
Why won’t I tell my husband, “I told you so”?
The Family Garden Planner shipping update!
Verse of the week – John 6:27
Pioneering Today Membership

Links mentioned in this podcast:

[fusebox_transcript]

Howdy, I’m Melissa!

I’m so glad you’re here. This is the place for all of us who loved Little House when we were young and thought Laura was our best friend. It’s where we grow dinner in the backyard and think everything looks and tastes better when it comes from a Mason jar. Here, you’ll find my favorite from-scratch recipes, herbal remedies and tutorials, and all my gardening tips from my 20+ years of growing and raising our own food.