Wood chips instead of back lawn?

17 years ago

Hi, all!

I did a search on this subject, but didn't find much. We're first-time homeowners, so forgive my ignorance in advance. As winter ticks away, we're really thinking about our back yard, which right now looks like it survived a war. We're talking tree stumps, craters, etc.

The yard is only about 20' by 35', some of which is taken up by Bilco doors and a back stoop. Our plan is to level out the yard, employ Uncle Contractor to bring his mini backhoe over to help get the stumps out, and then level out the yard a bit while removing what's left of the old English ivy. The problem is that we have two large silver maples with considerable canopies. From the looks of it (and we haven't seen them with leaves yet), we'll be really hard pressed to grow any grass back there. The areas that do get sun are going to be saved for vegetable/herb/flower beds.

That said, in an attempt to get the yard up and running quickly, would something like wood chips be a good alternative to grass for pretty much the whole yard? Any advice on the best way to go about making that happen? Are there any problems with wood chips we should watch out for?

Featured Answer

jeannie7

17 years ago

Billy, evidently you know what wood chips look like. Does this thought make you want to look out your window and see nothing but ......that!

Its going to be tough indeed to grow grass anywhere in that yard and blame it on the those darn maples.
In itself, a maple tree will suck the best of moisture out of the ground and leave very little for what's above.
Silver maples are monsters....there should be a law against planting them unless you have the necessary acreage to support their always hungry stomachs.

You could try to open the canopy as much as you can to let in light. Silver maples are forever dropping twigs and erupting their roots above surface. Their "helicopter" seeds will root very easily if you don't keep vigil and mow them down with each mowing.

With such small space, those maples (you didn't say just how big they are---could you entertain the thought to remove them...before they get any bigger) will increase shade eventually taking over any deck or patio you might like in the summer.

The backhoe is a Godsend. It can do work in hours that would take you days and weeks. Remove what you feel is necessary--the stumps and things, and generally clean up the area.
To kill weeds and anything else green you don't want, apply some "RoundUp" herbicide. This will kill anything and everything green it touches. Usually about a week is all it takes to kill. Then do a general cultivation of the yard, you might rent a rototiller, injecting a lot of organic material into the ground as you work it.
Peat moss can be a large percentage of any soil amendment along with some good compost, either your own, or composted cattle or sheep manure bought in bags or in bulk from a dealer.

Decide on how much lawn you want, how much of it you want a vegetable garden and more importantly....where you want it.
Most vegetables do not like shade...they depend on 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 hours of sunlight. If you wish to grow something that cant be done due to sunlight deficiency, think containers.

Suppose the 20' by 35' is cut back to 20' by 20'....
400 sqare feet. If you want to, and you should consider it, put 6" at least of compost, into the ground when you dig it up. 400 sq ft 6 inches deep, will take approximately 7 cubic yards of topsoil/compost to do the job. You can cut back some if you wish...4", will require
4 1/2 - 5 cubic yards.

Grass seed of the type that does well in shade can be thought of but those trees are going to be a continual menace to any grass you might wish to grow.

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Comments (8)

davidandkasie
17 years ago
Are there any problems with wood chips we should watch out for?

as they decay it MAY attract termites if any are in your area. whether they will come on in the house or not, is pure luck.

many people have wood mulch and NEVER have a termite issue. so you choose whehter or not the risk is worth it to you.

there are plenty of grasses that require little sun light.
dchall_san_antonio
17 years ago
I've seen a great yard made with shredded bark mulch. Aren't there some termite resistant woods? I think the one I saw was made from shredded juniper. I don't know how deep the mulch was.
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turf_junkie
17 years ago
I would put some bark mulch around the trees and try planting some FINE fescue in spring. I wouldn't worry too much about termites and mulch.
davidandkasie
17 years ago
I wouldn't worry too much about termites and mulch.

that would be why they ate all teh mulch from my beds in under a month, huh? like i said, not everyone will get them from it, but it does happen. putting down that much mulch is a sure draw.
gatorinfla
17 years ago
Why not pine straw instead?
I don't know how much wood chips or mulch costs, but I know pine straw bales are pretty cheap. A 20x35 area would probably be covered heavily by 10 bales. At the Big Box nearest to me, it's about $4.00 a bale, not not much cost involved.
And if you don't like the look of it, clean up is easy. I'm not so sure it's as easy to clean up chips if you don't like it.
andy10917
17 years ago
If the wood chips are not deep enough, then weeds will be a serious (and ugly) issue. If the chips are deep enough, then $$$. Another way to deal with the weeds is a weed barrier under the chips. If it is cheap and doesn't let water permeate well, the maples will be in trouble. If it is good, then $$$. Also expect the mini-backhoe to rip up the soil and it will probably be compacted when it leaves, and the topsoil and subsoil will get mixed when the stumps come out.

Isn't home ownership wonderful?
scott710
5 years ago
We have lots of trees on our lot and in the neighborhood. Leaf blowing and raking is a massive job in the fall. I noticed several properties in the neighborhood have natural yards. When we had some old trees removed, I had them leave lots of wood chips on the front area and then let the leaves stay on the ground in the fall. It looks great. Tree crews will give you wood chips for free. Easier for them than hauling away. Better for the environment and no maintenance. This works in our wooded neighborhood, YMMV.