Chip Drop Tips and WARNING | Watch This Before Using Chip Drop

[@ElahehDaisy]

I signed up in the February and totally forgot about it, and 2 weeks ago (October) I saw a huge pile in front of my garage door as I woke up!!! I was happy but surprised of the size of the pile!!! Took me two weeks to move it to the backyard.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

That's a good surprise! I think they used a semi to drop off my last order. I have about 20 yards now

[@ElahehDaisy]

​@FastGardeningMichigan, I just noticed you are in michigan too, I'll watch your videos more, I'm new to gardening 🎉

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@ElahehDaisy thanks and good luck!

[@j.b.6855]

Good tips. Most of them dont apply to my use case. But tipping $20 to get get them faster is a good idea. I have a large container garden, 20'x100', that I cardboard and chip for weed control. I have done it twice in 5 years. I used Chip Drop both times. I dont want the chips to break down, so I want to get them early in the year. Really early as possible because chipping the garden is a project best done in very early spring. Black walnut is perfect, especially if it stops weeds growing.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I like the decomposition. Inviting as many fungi into the garden as possible.

[@j.b.6855]

@@FastGardeningMichigan If I grew in the ground, adding wood chips for this purpose would be a good thing. Unfortunately I have a buried petroleum pipeline that runs under the rear of my backyard. While I have no reason to believe it might leak I chose to err on the side of caution and only do container gardening. Some as big as 40 gallons, and kiddie pool beds, with possibly bigger ones in the future. Still, I do add fungally composted organic material to the containers in the form of leaf mold.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@Xōchipilli Shroomtrip no fabrics. The cardboard lasts long enough to kill many weeds but pull perennial weeds beforehand. Turns into worm food. Id suggest adding grass clippings and hay before the cardboard. With the cardboard covering the soil it gives the worms room to feast on this other matter making even better soil

[@j.b.6855]

@@BrownWarTactics If you are using cardboard, make sure it doesnt have gaps or holes in it that are not covered. In fact putting down two layers and staggering the edges of the cardboard is a good idea. A double layer of cardboard and a few inches of wood chips on top will smother weeds for about 2 years. By then the cardboard is decomposed and some of the chips.

[@C1aymore]

Just signed up and requested. Two days later got a 20 yard load of really nice chips. Almost no leaves and zero garbage. Would (will) do this again in a heartbeat!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

As soon as I love the 30 yards they dropped off I'm getting more! I love the leaves. Helps the pile heat up and start composting faster. In the winter that won't happen but it's still good stuff

[@flatsville9343]

The chips fron leafy branches, 1 1/2 in or so in diameter ared the best. They are known as ramial chips. You almost need your own wood chipper or a rental to ontain these. They can be applied directly to established plants & will compost in place due to the N & lignin in the soft bark.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I also use a small chipper for branches from my yard that size. They are a finer sized chip. I like them for mushrooms and composting

[@twitchy5710]

This video was extremely helpful, thanks! We were just about to sign up and glad we saw the tip about the walnut conspiracy :)

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I'm waiting for my drop. Out of chips!

[@Laughinghawg]

Been using wood chips as ground cover to keep me out of the mud (too shaded to grow grass) around the fire pit in the back yard. On the timing of delivery, I actually prefer end of December to first of February (I'm in Atl GA area). Keeps the leaves to a minimum for a cleaner look and a more even decomposition.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I just ordered some now for that reason. While trees are domant. Just to use as pathways.

[@racebiketuner]

Solid info. Eucalyptus is also allelopathic. In my area, it's about a 50% chance that's what you'll get unless you specify otherwise.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

My latest load I specified no black walnut and still got mine dropped the next day. Some people wait a long time. Really depends where you live. I am in the woods so there are a lot of tree companies.

[@msregencyreader5550]

Thanks so much for this video! I've used them on 4 previous occasions with no issue. But my neighbors really got nervous when they saw the steam coming up off that huge pile of chips! They were convinced they were burning underneath!:)

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

The steam is awesome! Shows the process is starting. I'm at the bottom of 2 year old piles and the chips are now composted

[@itsjustjoe3790]

Got mine 22 hours after applying. It was about 15 yards of mixed oak and maple with lots of nice leaves. Super clean and now I need to get rid of 10 yards of mulch. If you can abide and agree to their terms, it’s great!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

My latest drop came the next day. This crew had a good chipper so everything got blended together nice and it's breaking down quickly

[@shleebeez]

Any tips for the easiest way to move the chips to your yard?

[@itsjustjoe3790]

@@shleebeez 3 children, a wheelbarrow, some shovels and 1 week of after school labor.

[@andreamara8542]

@@shleebeeztwo wheelbarrows worked for us. One person would load up the wheelbarrow and take it to the backyard while the second person was loading theirs. We are in our 60s and we had 10 yards of decomposed granite delivered In the middle of summer.

[@Charm-313]

I was thinking of that same time frame but forgot about chip drop. And the urine piece is a good idea 😁👌🏾 This is my first time and I'm in Shreveport,Louisiana. Don't know what's good or bad.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Chips should decompose a lot faster down there!

[@SophiaComptonfiberarts]

Thanks for your useful video. I read on a forum that uses them a lot that you need to be careful shoveling it because of mold spores. Do you wear a mask?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

No. I've seen fungi but never mold. It's pretty moist so there isn't much dust when shoveling. I like stuff growing in the chips. Means they are decomposing. I would watch out for yellow jackets. They like to nest in chip piles!

[@lunabeta3516]

This was great information. I took notes. Advice on the kind of chips to use or not use in my chicken area?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I give them everything. They are very efficient in knowing what to eat or not eat. They usually mix the chips low into the composting layer. The chips turn spongey and into dirt in a few weeks

[@OWK000]

In California we get storms in the winter, so summer isn't as good for us. Yep, urine NPK is approximately 11-1-2 if you want to break some chips down fast that don't have that summer green on them. I also add oyster shell lime and azomite. It's good to have some bone meal around to get that middle number, P phosphorus up. You can pressure cook bones and make slurry in any blender if you cook them long enough.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I have a lot of urine. Just waiting for more chips.

[@stephaniealley1970]

How long do we let the chips sit to breakdown? Days, weeks, months? Thought on this would be helpful. Love the idea of mushrooms breaking down and cleaning the pile.

[@jefferyleaver2847]

Well the mushroom spawn help break down the wood which creates topsoil I like to mix my substrates composted cow manure Sand topsoil and layer that with leaf straw and wood chips

[@jefferyleaver2847]

The time can take up to 3 years but I wouldn't worry just do it in ground cover with soil and plant blueberries & other acidic loving plants

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

As long as you can wait. If you get chips during summer when there are a lot of leaves the pile will get super hot and break down faster. Fungi finish it off when it cools. If you can't wait, fresh chips on the surface will eventually break down just takes longer. I have room so I get 4 or 5 loads at a time. That way the stuff closer to the ground is last to be used and also the most broken down.

[@TheAcenightcreeper]

So ive got a new house on 23 acres in zone 8a NC. Ive got a new loader tractor, wood splitter, large chainsaws…im interested in signing up for this for both logs and chips. However, i am not really familiar what all i can do with the chips. The only thing i can think of is to put the mulch on the 2 miles of trails i cut into the property…its all heavily wooded property and ive only got about a 1 acre traditional “yard” that is mostly bermuda and weeds. I got crummy soil because the excavation pushed all my topsoil off and hauled it away… I could literally take hundreds of yards of chips and not even take up an acre. Im more interested in it for the logs, i was thinking of doing a side business of firewood and ive got about 6 full cords split and aging right now. Again, i could take very large amounts of logs and process them very quickly, would this make it more attractive for them to dump?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I tried for logs once and never got any. But I live in an area where everyone wants logs. We all burn to heat our homes. Woodchips are easier to get. I use them to mulch pathways, cover soil in perrenial growth areas, chicken bedding, in my kids' play area, as a ground cover for a patio, and composting. I use the bigger chips to make char. When the original piles breakdown I can sift them for finished compost.

[@ashlynwanderer]

Are there any you avoid for chickens?

[@VER1AMusic]

Those black walnut wood chips could be useful for pathways and other areas where you don't want weeds growing. Especially if nobody wants it, the low demand could make for cheap landscaping.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I used them to mulch my fruit trees and other perennials

[@bobmariano3731]

Appreciate the great advice thx 👍⚾️

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thanks for watching!

[@jefferyleaver2847]

I like to buy certain mushroom spawn for my wood chips and others for my logs

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

There are 3 different brands I prefer.

[@stephaniealley1970]

Where do you get your spores and how much of a slurry do you make? I love this idea and want to do it.

[@jefferyleaver2847]

@@stephaniealley1970 I get my spawn and plugs from NorthSpore they are pretty awesome from my experience and they have plenty of videos on KZbin on different ways to grow with mushrooms i go beyond organic as each of my garden beds are made with logs and limbs especially the ones I see growing mushrooms I like as I mound up each side of my bed with wood chips to insulate the beds and hold in the moisture

[@user-lo1iz2ju3lfgfgxc]

Thanks

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thanks for watching!

[@ashlynwanderer]

Is there any risk of the chip pile spontaneously combusting like a hay fire? I feel like that could be an issue of you don't get it moved quick enough.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@ashlynwanderer I've never heard of it being an issue. The piles do get hot though.

[@marianenos-politis7793]

I live in Florida. I had 3 drops and they dropped them in my front yard in the grass. First drop was awesome 2nd had eucalyptus even though I said it's for veggie gardening... Third was not chipped well. 😂

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Like black walnut, eucalyptus has chemicals that inhibit plant growth. BUT once exposed to air, and disconnected from the living tree, they are safe. My whole garden is black walnut. I've specified no black walnut anyway from now on. They always send me pine now. I've found that after sitting for a couple months it all looks and functions the same. The stuff I want to use now looks more like compost than woodchips, but that's not a bad thing!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

As far as not chipped well, those chunks work great to make biochar!

[@mommabear2544]

I didnt do a tip because their map showed that no one in my area has ever gotten a delivery before. Alot of drops about an hour east of us. Very few an hour south of us, but thats it. So not sure if tree trimmers in my area work with chip drop.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

It's been tough this year. Going on 3 months without a drop. I need 5 or 6

[@mendynoma4272]

You talk about smoke rising from the chip pile , it is actually vapors. As a new subscriber , I am grateful for all that you have shared with us all.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

When a lot of leaves are in with a fresh arborist drop it will actually compost in place. The chips a foot or so down are so hot you can barely touch them and they turn black from cooking. I was worried about them catching on fire for a while!

[@brainwater]

​@@FastGardeningMichiganthere's a problem with hay bails catching on fire... if they're too wet! With the right moisture content the composting of hay in a bail combined with the insulation can make it catch on fire.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@brainwater when I compost it the temps can get up to 170

[@jeannrybinski4439]

Good vid, thanks!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thanks!

[@MaddysNiftyCreations]

I see people use them for chickens grounds .. That’s how I discovered it but I haven’t decided yet if I am gonna do it what’s your tip for that

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

My chickens turn woodchips into compost in a couple weeks! One of my favorite adds to the chicken run. I also use them under their roost and do a lasagna method. As they coat them in manure I add more. Keeps the smell down and is a good add to hot compost piles

[@growintogether627]

If you specify no black walnut, is it certain you don’t get it? My concern is for the toxic mold to animals

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@growintogether627 in theory. If arborists violate any of the chip drop terms and conditions they are booted. Mistakes could happen but they have always followed my requests with chips and logs for firewood

[@growintogether627]

@@FastGardeningMichigan great thank you!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@growintogether627 if you're lucky you'll catch the arborists and you can ask them what it is. They are good people to talk to. I got 2 extra drops one time but that was the black walnut guy (before I specified no walnut). Black walnut is OK for the garden though. Most of mine is.

[@growintogether627]

@@FastGardeningMichigan sounds good, appreciate your video and help

[@dangolfishin]

Got mine the next day after signing up. Signed up in July and got mostly oak and cherry chips with lots of leaves and a few twigs mixed in. I gave no tip either

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

If they're working close it's easier for them to drop off nearby

[@armyrabb1]

Not every arborist uses the chip drop site. I called every tree service I could find in my area and have gotten a couple of loads that way. I’m trying to cover an area of over 20,000 sq ft. This is my initial cover, so I’m laying them down about 8” thick. I’m still getting some Bermuda poking through in some areas, but I just dig down to the dirt and clear it out. Once it’s all gone, I’ll only have to keep it outside the fence line. I’ve battled kudzu and won. Oh yeah, my first load of chips came from my local power company. They were cleaning up trees along my road and just stopped and asked what they were going to do with their load of chips.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I'm still fighting quack grass. This fall I'm doing 2 more layers of cardboard on existing chips and 12 inches of chips on that. Been waiting 4 months for chips so I'll be calling arborists.

[@wannabefarmerr]

I signed up yesterday and got a load today!!! I didn’t think it would come so fast and SO MUCH OMG 😂😂😂

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I did last week and it arrived in less than 24 hours!

[@whistlebird]

Ever had issues with harmful bugs or particularly termites (or heard of anyone having these issues?). This is the main concern for me.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I have heard of the issue but I've never had a problem. I wouldn't mind them in the garden. I get a lot of ants but they help break down woodchips

[@rosetealatte9282]

Good information. I had one issue with a chip drop that I have never heard anyone else talk about. I got a chip drop that was FULL of mold. We tried to pick through and use the parts that seemed dry and fresh, but most of the load we got was so full of mold that I was so scared to use them in the bottom of my raised beds. We did use some of it but due to the mold, we ended up having to pay to take most of it to the dump. And we did end up getting slime mold show up in the raised beds. Overall they did the trick but the load being at least 50% mold was very disappointing.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I may be weird, but I would've been excited to see mold! 😂 What's left of mine is a fungi cake right now

[@winrawrisyou]

People don't really talk about it because it's perfectly fine to use that mulch. In this video he's moving that process along deliberately at the 4 minute mark. Put on a respirator while applying though. Once it has been applied in a thin-ish layer, it'll be fine as the mold will die off/go dormant when the mulch gets baked in the sun.

[@nowirehangers2815]

Mold mycelium fungus None if it’s bad for soil

[@jenn1ferschonberger]

Dang I wish I had a yard that big!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Mine is the smallest in this area

[@joannepeters3630]

I put my request in last year and haven't gotten anything?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Are they available in your area? My requests always get filled in a week or so

[@jaunteebaby]

@@FastGardeningMichiganthey’re available in my area and ‘very active’ it says but I’ve been waiting nearly 2 mo., with my $20 tip

[@genericman1624]

I saw one in my area that took 3 years for them to receive them then saw some delivered after just 1 day. Your request is probably still up. Dont know why it takes so long for some

[@AngelaWolverton]

I'm having the same problem. Offered a $60 tip hoping it would encourage them. I've also tried calling some of the local companies and can't even get a call back. ☹️

[@Sublime_37]

I’m so glad that I researched this before I signed up. Bc my husband would of been so beyond pissed if they came and dropped off an 8 foot pile of wood chips in our driveway. 😂😂 Bc we live in a pretty wooded area, so know that there’s plenty of work for them.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Just say its fine because in a few months theyll shrink down to 4 feet as they decompose 😂

[@marjanaavsec8392]

I’m glad the chips are not heavy! I removed 5 big loads by myself.

[@blahblahblah7551]

Do they call you or message you when they are on there way?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Sometimes. If you leave a good picture on the site showing them the drop site they usually just dump and go.

[@jamesrossjr7453]

Applied 3 days ago, tipped $20, only chips no logs, didnt list any prohibited wood types. Notta yet, hoping it comes soon but def not 24-48 hrs like ive been reading about

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I am in a wooded area so I get chips or logs anywhere from a day after to a week.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

You're welcome!

[@JamBreadSpotify]

The good thing is black walnut and cedar don't grow in my area. :D

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

There are other trees with similar herbicidal properties! I only know about what grows here.

[@WakandaBabe]

It's the amount that's the deterrant for me. I am 72 years old. I would be dead and buried a long time before I could get all those in my garden.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

My subcompact tractor has been a game changer with moving chips.

[@vhicks2439]

Have you considered talking to your neighbors to share the bounty? Or a local garden club?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

@@vhicks2439 there are a lot of people around here giving away their chip drops. Most may only use a couple yards, but when 10 yards shows up they have nowhere to put it! I just got 15 yards yesterday

[@thegrandmommy6616]

Should I use it to kill wild weeds

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

A thick layer will kill some but others grow right through chips!

[@user-neo71665]

Dont like ceder in mine because I also throw the chips in my chicken coop and ceder causes breathing issues.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I may have had some cedar mixed in. The chickens usually keep it moist so there isn't dust

[@dw6229]

Anybody ever have issues with termites?

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I've found them. Outside I see them as a benefit. They break the chips down faster as do the carpenter ants.

[@lmcneillify]

In the summer in Florida, i would die outside trying to move them. Its too fucking hot

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I've seen a few videos of Jim Kovaleski's front yard market garden in Florida and he gets composted wood chips dropped off. I wish we had that service here in Michigan. My chips break down a lot when it's warm but our season is short.

[@teter129]

Put my order in, its been 2 years, and nothing . . .

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Some people do have a harder time. Look for arborists in your area and give them a call. Tell them they can drop their chips for free. They have to pay to get rid of them so if they're close they'd be happy to. That's how many people get them. Same with logs if you burn wood for heat. Arborists drop me off free firewood

[@jamesrossjr7453]

Did you tip? Lol

[@Raul28153]

Chipdrop is a GREAT IDEA~!!!! There is an issue though. Chip Drop is not wealthy like GOOGLE is, so the information you give them is subject to hacking.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Haven't had any problems yet after 5 drops

[@Raul28153]

@@FastGardeningMichigan Yah I hear ya. But absent some very expensive serurity you know that the more popular the become the more likely it is that the hackers will find them a tempting target. The last 5 years no only a few folks knew about it. But with so many references on you tube - - well.

[@jaunteebaby]

I tipped $20 and I’m still waiting after 5 weeks 💔

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I usually have no issue and it's been a month. When I put orders in for Logs they came in a couple days!

[@abrotherinchrist]

The only disadvantage I can see is them dropping them wherever they want, like in your driveway where you, you know, drive.

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

This is one of the warnings they give. Many do not realize how many chips they'll be getting.

[@abrotherinchrist]

@@FastGardeningMichigan Yes, it's the unpredictability that makes this a potential disaster. I'd rather put the effort in to developing a relationship with an arborist and pay them for a little more predictability in what I'm getting.

[@torieorr2757]

I try to think about those things before i do chip drops. Usually will send a courtesy text first. and If there isnt a location pictured that looks easy to access, li will not accept the drop. my favorite one had a sign out CHIPDROP with flags in a large open area. But I'm sure some people dont give a fk about others, and just dump and run.

[@deanvanlaarhoven1413]

The disease in a tree is only going to be a risk too similar trees. It is not a risk to your garden.

[@rachelparkervarner]

Great information. Thank you!

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

Thanks for watching!

[@nokko-777]

Anybody got log? I wonder what look like and how big the log 🪵 are!!!???

[@FastGardeningMichigan]

I've requested them but never got any. Logs are popular around me. Most heat with wood stoves.