BUILDING ON LEVEL GROUND: STEP-BY-STEP TIPS FOR MAKING THE MOST OF A FLAT LOT
I totally get the temptation—free is free, right? I’ve done the same thing, loading up the trunk with those “help yourself” wood chips from a tree crew down the street. The first time, I was pretty pumped. But yeah, it was a mixed bag (literally). Some of it was chunky, some was almost sawdust, and there were random bits of plastic and even a soda can in there. Not exactly premium mulch.
I did notice it broke down super fast, especially after a couple of good rains. By the end of summer, it was basically gone, and I had to top it up again. The mushrooms were wild too—like overnight, little clusters everywhere. I guess that’s just nature doing its thing, but it looked kind of weird.
Has anyone tried letting the chips sit for a while before spreading them? I read somewhere that “aging” them helps with the breakdown issue and maybe cuts down on the mushroom invasion. But then you need space to let them sit, which isn’t always practical.
I’m curious if anyone’s found a trick to make these freebie chips last longer. Maybe mixing them with bagged mulch or layering them thicker? Or is it just one of those things where you get what you pay for? For me, it’s been a decent budget fix for paths or spots I don’t care about looking perfect, but for garden beds... not so much.
Would love to hear if someone’s actually managed to make these work long-term without turning their yard into a fungus farm.
