After the Tree Is Down
Tree removal produces two main outputs: logs and wood chips. What to do with the logs is usually obvious — they get cut to firewood length or hauled away depending on size and condition.
Wood chips are less obvious. After a significant removal or pruning job, the chipper produces a substantial pile — sometimes a pickup truck's worth or more. Most people either want them gone immediately or aren't sure if they're useful.
They're useful. Here's how to use them correctly.
Why Wood Chips Are Valuable
Fresh wood chips are one of the best mulch materials available for landscape beds and trees. They:
- Retain soil moisture — often reducing irrigation needs substantially
- Moderate soil temperature (cooler in summer, warmer in winter)
- Suppress weed germination
- Feed soil biology as they decompose — beneficial fungi, bacteria, earthworms
- Gradually improve soil structure over time, particularly in North Florida's sandy soils
- Protect root zones from compaction and mechanical damage
This is what arborists use in professional tree care. The bagged "decorative" mulch sold at big box stores is often a processed, sometimes dyed version of the same thing — at significantly higher cost.
How to Use Them Around Trees
Spread chips 3-4 inches deep in a ring around trees, extending as far out toward the drip line as practical. Leave 3-6 inches of clear space immediately around the trunk — chips piled against the trunk (the "mulch volcano" you see everywhere) trap moisture against the bark and invite rot and insects.
A proper mulch ring:
- Flat application, 3-4 inches deep
- Clear space at the trunk base
- Extended out into the root zone, not just a narrow ring
Fresh chips from a recent removal may have some nitrogen immobilization as they begin decomposing — drawing nitrogen from the soil surface. This is temporary (resolves as the chips begin decomposing fully) and primarily affects plants directly in contact with the chips. It's not a reason to avoid using them; it's a reason not to work them into the soil.
Uses Beyond Tree Mulch
Landscape bed mulch: Same principles as tree mulch — 3-4 inches, keep clear of plant crowns.
Pathways: Wood chips make practical informal pathways through garden areas. They compact down somewhat, suppress weeds, and feel better underfoot than bare soil. Budget-friendly compared to gravel or paving.
Vegetable garden paths: A layer of chips in the paths between garden beds keeps mud down and makes the garden more comfortable to work in through wet periods.
Compost material: Wood chips are a "brown" (high carbon) compost input. Add them to compost in layers with green material (food scraps, grass clippings) to improve aeration and balance the pile.
Erosion control: Fresh chips applied on slopes can reduce erosion on disturbed areas while they revegetate.
What to Know About Fresh vs. Aged Chips
Fresh chips have a higher nitrogen demand as they start breaking down. They're also higher in moisture. Some gardeners prefer to let them sit in a pile for several weeks to begin the initial decomposition phase before spreading.
That said, fresh chips work fine as mulch around established trees — they don't harm the tree. The nitrogen immobilization at the soil surface is a concern for annual beds and vegetables, less so for established perennials and trees.
Aged chips (a few months old) are easier to work with and have a more soil-like quality. If you have time and space to let them sit, that's worth doing.
If You Don't Want Them
Tell us before the job. We can:
- Haul them away as part of the job (standard option for most customers)
- Leave them on your property if you want them for mulch
- Spread them where you want them if you'd like them applied in a specific location (we can discuss scope)
If you're indifferent, we typically leave chips that will be useful for the property and haul larger quantities. Tell us what you prefer.
Free Chips From Local Crews
If you're looking for wood chips beyond what one removal generates, arborist crews and utility crews often need to offload chips. A service like ChipDrop connects property owners with tree crews looking to dump a load — free chips, usually same-day delivery when a crew in your area has material. You need space to receive a full truckload.
Scheduling a removal or pruning job in Tallahassee? Call (850) 570-4074 or request a free estimate online.