Common Uses for Wood Chips

Mulch

One of the most common uses of wood chips remains in gardening where they are used as mulch. You can use them in a number of ways to ensure protection and growth of flowers and plants. They can be used as flower beds where they will protect them from losing moisture to heat. Soil can quickly lose moisture if you live in an area with weather extremities. They lose moisture during summers when the sun is at its punishing best. Moisture is lost within a few hours and plants start to die unless you quickly replace the water lost. This can happen in winters too if you live in an area with low humidity and freezing weather. The air will absorb water from the soil, leaving your plants and flowers struggling for life.

You can spread a protective layer of mulch over soil and flower beds before the onset of extreme weather. This will trap the moisture and will ensure that the plants are receiving the required amount of water. It is not necessary to spread wood chips on areas with vegetation as you can also spread them on unused soil. This will be of great help if you are planning to use that area for growing plants and flowers.

Wood chips can also be used for creating paths and walkways in your garden. Gravel can be costly to install and difficult to maintain. Rain, dust, and other elements of nature can wreak havoc with the material. You can instead use wood chips for creating paths in your garden. You will need a thick layer of wood chips that is spread evenly in set measurements. You can use a rope or a marker to create a path on which you can lay the woodchips. A little pressing will help in enabling the chips to bind with the soil.

Heating

Another great use of wood chips is in heating where it can replace the traditional heating oil. Wood chips are used as biomass fuel, which is considered environment friendly and energy efficient. There can be two ways of using wood chips as a fuel. Under the first option, you can use them in your regular fire place instead of regular firewood. They can be ignited in the same manner as wood and you can add greater quantities to ensure longer burning periods.

The second option of using of wood chips is in heating large buildings where they can replace the traditional heating system. Research is being done on how to integrate wood chips into boilers for heating an entire building. Wood chip operations for larger buildings are considered more optimal because they sometimes provide uneven heating. Wood pellets can replace them in smaller buildings given their ability to produce uniform heat.

Decorating

You may be surprised by the use of wood chips in interior décor. Designers have been experimenting with wood chips for years and have been able to find some great uses. You can use wood chips as wall designs with embellishments and artificial floral patterns embedded into them. Wood chip furniture has also gained currency in recent years. Wood shavings are industrially compressed into solid masses that can be cut and modified into tables, and stools. Organic compounds and wood is often added so as to increase the durability. The only care required is to avoid them coming into contact with fire.

Another use of wood chips is in the manufacturing of designer pieces where abstract shapes or regular designs can be etched out of them. You can use these post-modern pieces of art in your guest room, as wall hangings, or for exterior décor. A unique design pattern with wood chips is being used in modern staircases where they are compressed into a set format and encased in unbreakable varieties of glass. These glass sheets are then used as steps in a stair case, evoking an innovative design pattern.

Wood chips can be used in a number of ways both outside and inside your home. Their effectiveness as mulch is established but you can also use them as part of interior décor, furniture, and staircases.