It seems to stay put reasonably well. Doesn't always look so great once you get it back to the house.

I do, and really like using wood chips. They don't blow around, keep the ground well covered and promote soil life where there's moisture. What I have found that makes it messy is that birds like to hunt for things under the chips, so they tend to scatter them a little, but it's not that bad.

The multi-sized "Arborists wood chips" will interlock and stay put.

My worst problem were the brown Towhees scratching in it and kicking mulch all over.

Thank you Lazy for identifying that bird for me. :) The cactus wrens poke around in the mulch and sweep a bit with their beaks, but the brown towhees are the ones who kick it around with their feet. It's funny to watch. They jump on a spot and then kick the mulch back and pick up the bugs they uncover.

None of you have any problems with scorpions in wood chips? We have them here and there and this stopped me to use wood chips even thought they are much better than rocks...

The scorpions I find live in more stable, protected areas, like under plant pots for tiny ones or in crevices of my block walls for the adults. I haven't seen any among the wood chips (which isn't to say it's not possible, it's just not my personal experience).The mulch is a place where birds forage for food, and a scorpion in the mulch would be too vulnerable.

I dunno if it's the wood chips but I have noticed an increase in scorpion activity around my house since I added mulch. It also could be that I'm out there more so I notice them more. Before I added the mulch my back yard was barren and new.

Thank you guys, I think I will put it in the flower beds that are in the hottest parts of my yard and will see how it goes! Always wanted to use them since they don't radiate heat that much...

wood chips or shredded mulch is my favorite. Rocks/ gravel is a pain b/c it eventually gets silted-up with dirt over time.

Ladyaz. If you house is in a new area, you will have scorpions. Yyyeeuck! Until the underground nests are exterminated, you till need to be careful. I live in a old area of Phx and have never seen one. Thank you, Lord.

When you get wood chips MAKE SURE they are from a company that does a brisk business. Mine had come from a company doing yard clean ups as well as tree trims. There were LOTS of cockroaches. And they are still here. I would spray, but want to keep the good bugs. Other than that, the wood chips have been great. At first the Bermuda tried to grow up through, but I dug it up in those spots until it quit trying.

the Vegan Athlete on YouTube has found a company which has nice ones. Maybe ask him?