

However, wood chips don’t work well with plants with shallow roots. Wood chips also support diverse types of soil microorganisms, which help plants resist environmental stress.

They provide a variety of nutrients and materials, and are better than sawdust for preventing compaction. They’re the perfect solution for drought-prone regions.Īnother major advantage of wood chips is that they are resistant to compaction. So if you’re worried about your garden’s water supply, consider using wood chips instead of mulch. Wood chips also add valuable nutrients to the soil. However, wood chips tend to break down more slowly. While wood chips absorb more water, mulch retains more. The main difference is in their water retention. While both mulch and wood chips are good additives for gardens, wood chips have some distinct advantages over mulch. Read on to learn more about the benefits of wood chips and rubber mulch. But they do come with a downside: they can cause a problem if they attract weeds. Wood chips also mimic the natural processes that take place on the forest floor, making them an excellent choice to combat topsoil erosion. These products will absorb water and retain it in the soil, reducing weed growth. Many gardeners choose wood chips or rubber mulch as a soil conditioner. Wood chips absorb more water than wood chips In addition to mulch, consider installing porous hardscaping materials. A well-designed landscape will minimize the effects of excess water. To make sure that your garden beds and landscape are fully absorbing water, choose plants that can tolerate a moist site. For example, wood chips will soak up more water than rubber mulch, while stone or gravel will absorb more than plastic mulch. Does mulch absorb water? It depends on the kind of mulch.
