Installing Wood Chip Pathways or Mulch - Testing Three Methods.

[@Amyzgr8r]

I love the way you literally HOP into your projects. I guess I missed the part about which one of those methods worked the best.

[@Sport4Life]

Much respect to you for the work you’re putting in. Would rather have an urban garden to feed my family than a manicured lawn.

[@urbanfarmstead]

SenzaNome thank you! I couldn’t agree more!

[@patrciaclemons8183]

Kyle at the mercy of KZbin algorithm, releasing content that blows the iconic millionaire KZbinrs out of the water. Yet sitting under 100k subs. All in do time right!!? Great info

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thanks Patrcia! Yeah, those algorithms are good over all, but they can make it difficult to get a foot hold when you’re just starting out. I’ll be here sharing my gardening videos either way and if they can inspire or help a few gardeners discover a new idea or even just brighten a few days, that’s enough for me. Thank you for your support!

[@kiddfamilyfarmllc9962]

Speaks volumes as to the society consuming mind numbing content.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Kidd Family Farm LLC agreed!

[@bellakim9404]

With this comment. Subscribed! As I'm preparing to create a walkway in my garden bed.

[@EvolutionWendy]

I can hardly believe it! You think just like I do, you experiment just like I do, thank you it's so good to meet somebody who thinks like me, You are saving me a lot of time, whereas other videos just gave me ideas, Your videos gives me comparisons and solutions

[@tormodgustavsen9249]

So well done! Tidy and clean. And the way you test out different materials and methods too. Inspiring!

[@urbanfarmstead]

Tormod Gustavsen thank you so much!

[@mineralrevolution]

I can't wait for the follow up video to this. I want to try this for my garden path and I'm just waiting to see which worked the best. Thanks for the awesome tips!

[@urbanfarmstead]

Jocelyn Bennion I’m hoping to have it posted in a couple days. Spoiler alert - the weed fabric worked best for my, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will work best for everyone

[@augardenideas2189]

it's amazing, the shredded bark is great for potting soil, thank you for the test and it worked, you're so cute, thank you so much

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you!

[@mleav2]

I use a layer of dollar store lanscaping fabric covered with layers of fresh grass clipping from lawn mower bag. Just keep clippings away from plant stems or the excess nitrogen from the fresh grass will burn them. After season over leave it to overwinter then in spring pull up the emails of the old fabric, mix the decomposed clippings into the garden, get new fabric, mow the lawn and repeat.

[@elsmooth12]

Great video. I'm in the process of smothering a ton of English Ivy overtaking a large bed of the place I just moved to using cardboard and woodchips. Nothing better than redirecting waste materials from the landfill to the garden. Keep up the great work!

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you! Best of luck with your Ivy! That stuff can be tough!

[@TheJunkyardgenius]

Just found your channel, subbed already, i really like your clear simple explanations, so easy to understand and follow. Cant wait to follow your journey esp in the garden

[@urbanfarmstead]

techstuff thank you so much! I appreciate your feedback! Clear, simple, and informative is my goal!

[@lj2460]

Thank you for this video 🤗 ill definitley will be doing the woodchip method. Ill try all 3 too.

[@mirlamurillo3473]

Hit a like just cuz the video is quick and to the point. Ty.

[@paige_judah5538]

Exactly 💯

[@72tubedmiaz]

Can’t wait to see which is better for weed control! On another note your smile belongs on network TV , 😉

[@urbanfarmstead]

72tubedmiaz I’m excited to see too! I’ll definitely share an update! Thanks 😁

[@fultonjohnsonaton5096]

Cardboard is the winner for many reasons- it ll act as extra weed stopper - it'll break down and feed the soil and earthworms love to eat it, The weed fabric does not decompose & will stop the wood chips absorbing into the ground underneath as they break down, and eventually will just have to be torn up from the ground- a very messy job with the woodchips still sitting on top. Also , cardboard doesn't need staples. Goooo Cardboard!

[@mistakay9019]

only watched one other video and I can tell you are going to go places! Great content :)

[@urbanfarmstead]

MistaKay90 thank you so much! I appreciate your feedback and I’m glad you are enjoying my videos.

[@marioedsellafuente3184]

Hi, how did it go. Which one is better? Interested since weeds have conquered my garden. Thanks

[@saltlifegull4091]

First time watching and hooked already! Subscriber from NW Florida.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you so much!

[@ThriftyGarage]

Looking forward to seeing the results. As a landscaper we do not recommend weed fabric under bark mulch but only under decorative rock. Additionally we use commercial grade weed fabric which tends to hold up better over time.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you! Yeah, I pretty much only use in under hardscaping as well, but def learned a bit from this experiment.

[@jameslarson6555]

Agreed, once the chips start breaking down and weed seeds germinate on top of the fabric, they send tiny roots that grow down through the fabric. When you pull up the weeds, the fabric comes with them. Cardboard is the better choice here. Landscape fabric works well to keep the gravel in a pathway from sinking or migrating down into the soil.

[@urbanfarmstead]

@@jameslarson6555 absolutely 👍🏼

[@playerjair12]

Where in the second video?

[@urbanfarmstead]

@@playerjair12 I added the link to the video description

[@natashaj.layton3603]

New subscriber here! Love your content! Keep it coming.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Natasha J. Layton hi! Thank you so much! Many more videos to come!

[@eugenekotlar]

Hi Kyle, Please share what irrigation tubing you are using, including the make and type. Also, can you be more detailed about how you connect your irrigation system?

[@juliejackson9411]

Looking forward to the results of the wood chips. I will probably only do the first method though..

[@Sweetpotato0627]

Great idea to test different methods for yourself..... I'll stay posted to your channel to see how it works out. I myself am trying the landscape paper at the bottom covered with woodchips. I've already purchased it, so might as well use it...

[@samulgomer2933]

Iam building a loft in my 300years+ old wood cabin, and reuseing The sawdust that isolated my attic. I made a pathway and new outdoor space in my forest garden. I dont want The saw dust to decompose, nor do I want weed growth so i placed plasticsheet under it. (cardboard on places where its ok for decompose). Question is that a good idea or Will it not drainage as is should?

[@belindadomingo]

Looking forward to the results! I did the sheet mulch + wood chips method and hoping that one wins 👍🏽

[@urbanfarmstead]

Belinda Domingo great! I do think a lot of the decisions is based on what specific weeds are in your garden and their growing habits. For instance - Bermuda grass is the main reason we don’t use weed mat

[@belindadomingo]

Urban Farmstead our grass is similar to Bermuda called Kikuyu - a horrible invasive grass with deep rhizomes 😫

[@urbanfarmstead]

Belinda Domingo oh yikes, that sounds awful! Well I really hope this works out well for the both of us, but if not we’ll keep working toward a solution.

[@Dee.C]

Gorgeous garden.

[@cletusrobinson]

How did this come out? I have an 8’ wide area on the side of my home about 20’ long that gets no sun. Would this be a consideration for that area?

[@HappinessFactoryGardens]

Looking forward to the follow up video!

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you!

[@Devansh-K9]

Is the follow up video out yet?

[@Theloadedbarbell]

@urban farmstead is the landscaping fabric good to add under mulch going on a retaining wall? I want drainage so the retaining can last a long time and won’t collapse but want to prevent weed growth as well.

[@minaandthegarden]

Thanks for sharing. I've been seeking ways to make an inexpensive pathway in my garden and I think I just found it. Do you think I can use mulch bags as well instead of wood chips.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Happy to share. Probably, but what are “mulch bags”?

[@ccfishy7483]

I will be removing my Douglas fir tree and building a vegetable raised bed there. I will end up with a lot of wood chips, can I just add soil on top and start gardening?

[@infinitelyblessed359]

If I've got 112 sq. feet of paths to cover, how much wood do I need? i didnt hear you mention what you got, thats why Im asking.

[@adamvadala1983]

Which 3 methods worked? Anyone better then the other? My grandmother use to put down cardboard, I always thought that was the better way. Have you ever used plastic liner?

[@libertadmartinez1891]

Love this video. Thanks

[@beaulieuc8910]

will it get all muddy after lots of rain

[@RocketPipeTV]

3:03 why are your pathways wider than the growing beds? I would have made 1 path in the middle of the length of the bed. You’d have like double the growing space, your walkway being a path to the first long growing bed.

[@thezone3gardener645]

Is it good inside the greenhouse?

[@michaeltoronto9241]

How did you decide how wide to make the garden beds?

[@glenndrumright9425]

The only issue I had when doing wood chips for the pathways was that when you are barefoot you get a lot of splinters in your feet? Have you walk on the paths without shoes on?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Yes! I completely agree with you on that! I’m barefoot in the garden a lot in summer and wood chips are not good for that at all.

[@jmont4102]

I have local hardwood mulch and walk barefoot all the time with no issues. Wood chips might be diferent thought

[@urbanfarmstead]

jmont4102 good to know! I think I does depend on the wood, and probably the feet 🦶 as well 😆.

[@carpentryfirst3048]

How often do you go to your garden barefoot? What about all the crap you bring into your home? I never understood how Americans could wear shoes inside the house. Lots of nasty things outside that could be tracked into the house, onto the couches, the other furniture, carpets ext.

[@CS-bn4un]

This is a late viewer, but I am a subscriber. After using the wood chips with cardboard, did you have any increase in termite activity? We battle them, live in frame home a century and a quarter old, with 3 wood outbuildings, so are trying to be careful...but like the factors of wood chips.

[@urbanfarmstead]

I’ve not had issue with termites in them here. My house is wood frame and 103 years old, so I get it

[@CS-bn4un]

@@urbanfarmstead Thanks for your response!

[@MiTiaMexicana]

Any updates? I'm thinking of doing the same and confused which method is best

[@urbanfarmstead]

Yeah, I posted the full review/update video a few months after this

[@Snlewi01]

Link to follow up? What worked better??

[@jakel.7433]

Will the wood chips cause termites? & does the Brown Mulch by vigoro work the same?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Not in my experience, though I can’t say for sure.

[@forpetessake3532]

i’ve read termites are attracted

[@nikitatje3]

Really informative and inspiring! 😊 I'm curious if there's an online tool or app where you can draw your garden and get the best design for such a beautiful garden like this. Would you by any chance know?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you! I don't personally know of one but I normally draw my plans to scale of graph paper.

[@barbann5091]

I think I made an error in installing a wood chip pathway. We had some spare topsoil so we put that in as a base layer over the clay, then we put the wood chips on that.. Unfortunately now the pathway is squishy and it isn't solid to walk on it. Can this be fixed without having to take the whole thing up and install the wood chips without the topsoil layer?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Barbara Gladfelter the wood chips themselves wont make much of a solid path, especially in a thin layer so it a solid path is your goal you would definitely want to add them on top of a solid foundation. Im still surprise that it’s “squishy” but if that’s the feel of your top soil then that’s likely why.

[@barbann5091]

@@urbanfarmstead Thank you for your reply. Do you think soaking it with water will improve this? You sink down 3-4 inches when walking on it.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Barbara Gladfelter soaking and tamping would definitely harden our top soil but I couldn’t say for sure without knowing the composition of yours. It’s worth a try

[@braxtonrichards3202]

Would you recommend these wood chips in a climate with more rain and humidity, or would the wood chips decade too fast?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Yes I would.

[@braxtonrichards3202]

@@urbanfarmstead Thank you, This is my first time getting into gardening, I'm currently clearing out a 20' x 12' area to build four 8' x 4' raised plots. I also just bought all the stuff to build your DIY grow light. Thank you for all the information and ideas.

[@urbanfarmstead]

@@braxtonrichards3202 oh that’s awesome! Thanks!

[@scarykarye]

Do you plan on tilling in the mulch after this seasons garden? Wondering how long it will take for the cardboard to decompose enough?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Great question. I won’t till again and if I was replacing the garden where it is now I wouldn’t change I’m up much. But I’ll be building raised beds in a new spot this winter.

[@warmcheeto443]

Very informative

[@urbanfarmstead]

Warmcheeto thank you!

[@TheRegenBeacon]

Woodchip spreading level: 1000

[@urbanfarmstead]

🙌🏼

[@Adam-Minka-Dink]

Keen to see the results. Are they out yet? Cheers

[@urbanfarmstead]

Yep. They sure are. I think I even linked them at the end screen of this video

[@urbanfarmstead]

Here is the link: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJy7aGp6ap6oba8

[@Mountainclimber-zv4u1]

Do wheelchairs run OK on these?

[@SacredShiro]

Ill be trying to do the wood chip thing this year. Just finding it hard to get a hold of any where I live. Will straw work?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Shiro almost any similar material will work. Much of it is your preference, or what’s available. The cation I would give you with straw is that it sometimes contains lots of seeds that could end up sprouting in it to cause you more work. But that does very depending on the straw.

[@trishrayburn320]

Many tree trimming companies will drop a load of chips for free.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Trish Rayburn yes! Definitely a great source!

[@jarrodrastrick]

Hi, was curious as to why you have such wide pathways? also what are the dimensions off your pathways and beds?

[@sherrywhitman9820]

He has it posted in the video before this when he is making his yard into the garden. His pathways are 18". Some beds are 4' wide, some are 2' wide depending on what he is planting.

[@josephhall2858]

Are you going to be doing the follow-up video soon?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Joseph Hall I posted that two months ago! I’m not like other channels, I generally want to help you grow food! Here’s. The link to my follow up: kzbin.info/www/bejne/hJy7aGp6ap6oba8

[@josephhall2858]

Yes, I found it shortly after watching this video. I wish the mulch or the cardboard and mulch would have worked better so it could feed the soil.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Joseph Hall I still think the mulch and cardboard is the best way to go.

[@zerad3307]

Guys please share the video on your social media !

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thanks Kevin!

[@smartk8478]

Is the wood ashes good for plants as well?

[@urbanfarmstead]

I’ve heard that it is, but we don’t use any here and I don’t have personal experience with using wood ashes

[@ksihler]

Can I ask where you got your chips

[@urbanfarmstead]

Kris these are from Cascade here in Sacramento

[@ksihler]

@@urbanfarmstead Thank you

[@prattcreekart]

My city offers free wood chips by the water tower in one of our parks. They make them from the city tree cuttings.

[@urbanfarmstead]

Angela Moulton that’s awesome! I should see if our city offers them

[@urbanfarmstead]

Kris you’re welcome!

[@ianaycock1370]

great video

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you

[@NadiiaTsaryk]

Thanks!

[@urbanfarmstead]

You’re welcome!

[@JimVanderveen]

Kyle, where do you get your wood chips?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Cascade

[@JimVanderveen]

Ah, right around the corner from Green Acres, convenient. Thanks!

[@urbanfarmstead]

@@JimVanderveen 👍🏼 yep. These chips are called Play Fiber I believe

[@dfabella85]

How wide is your plot?

[@anngoulding3020]

Good day....is it safe to use wood chips inside a greenhouse? I'm worried about BUGS in the wood chips ruining our plants because of pesky bugs!

[@forpetessake3532]

i read bugs and termites are attracted to it

[@elizabethsansom6447]

Love wood chips

[@urbanfarmstead]

Elizabeth Sansom they certainly have some nice benefits

[@TheRileyjemarle]

Awesome

[@trishanavarro4887]

Lookin good!

[@urbanfarmstead]

Trisha Navarro thank you!

[@zhaw9573]

Nice 👍

[@urbanfarmstead]

Banyu Ziaw Thank you!

[@meekerh]

Your observations with respect to the different ways to use wood chips pretty much parallels my own. But no matter what method you use, the weeds will eventually win out given enough time. Thinking about going concrete next year. Let's see 'em grow out through that!

[@mushethecowboycook9353]

Look at (josh sattin) on youtube who is at raleigh city farm. We do cardboard then compost (for beds) or woodchips (for walkways) and no weeds as you can see

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thanks, I’ve watched some of his videos. Great videos and great farm! This yellow nutsedge is a nightmare!

[@swalker5619]

What's up with the ropes?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Keeps my dog out… most of the time

[@Gtt198]

Thnx bro

[@urbanfarmstead]

You are welcome

[@susanmillsap2238]

Love these videos! Where did you get your wood chips?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you! Hasties in Sacramento

[@jeffdinter6208]

You will have problems down the road which were you used the wood chips over the weed barrier cloth. Because that weed barrier cloth will not decompose

[@bharathnaiduaavula5983]

What is the use of wood chips in pathways?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Bharath Dance Academy thanks for the question, but did you watch the video because I thought I cover that pretty well in the video. Basically they keep down weeds while protecting and feeding the soil but there’s more about them in the video.

[@michaelripperger5674]

Why do you have those 3 ropes where you have to jump over them ?

[@urbanfarmstead]

Michael Ripperger great question! These keep my dog out of our garden. Without them my dog chases butterflies into the garden and tramples plants all day long. I have more information on it in my Instagram highlights if you’re interested. Thanks for asking.

[@JVANDNETO]

active legend portugues 👍🏼😉🇧🇷❤🇧🇷

[@urbanfarmstead]

🙌🏼

[@vladimir7759]

and why do you need to make a substrate? after all it is possible to leave without it that mulch would rot and fertilize the earth and roots of plants

[@urbanfarmstead]

Vladimir yes, the wood chips will definitely decompose to feed the soil but it takes time and in the beginning the soil microbes tie up a large portion of the nitrogen so it’s not available to the plants. Long term though, that does work quite well. Thank you for sharing

[@niclee1863]

And they promote fungal growth to help feed and balance the bacteria in the soil

[@urbanfarmstead]

Nic Lee yes! Definitely some nice advantages to wood chips

[@pilingmarcelino9782]

Why my wood chips grow mushrooms?

[@urbanfarmstead]

That’s pretty common, there are many fungal spores in wood. It’s not usually a problem

[@netnumthipmudwanich1423]

👏👏👍👍

[@urbanfarmstead]

Netnumthip Mudwanich thanks!

[@jeffdinter6208]

The best way to use your weed barrier cloth is just put it on top of the soil not under wood chips or any kind of mulch.

[@maplenook]

Arborist chips!

[@MrsSquishy2010]

Cardboard will actually decompose and feed the soil. The more the woodchip decomposes the more it feeds the soil. Soon those paths will be better to plant in that the beds. So I vote for cardboard.

[@KarlChilders-p5k]

Answer: Look at all the other pathways and see what he did then you know lol

[@hannapajanen4363]

Why not show the results in this video? Thus thumbs down, sorry

[@urbanfarmstead]

Thank you for asking Hanna! The follow up video had to be made two months after this video, because it took that amount of time to do a thorough test of these methods. And there’s no way to go back and just add that to this video, so it’s a separate video and it fully shows the results of this experiment if you’re interested in seeing it. Hope that answers your question. Sorry you didn’t enjoy the video.