My 4 Year Journey Into Wood Chip Back To Eden Style Gardening.

[@andrewhague1521]

Yours has to be the most laid-back voice yet on KZbin - I love it. It's a great video.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Andrew! It's kind of the one I'm stuck with.

[@murray_henderson]

I've been using wood chips for about six years. I love it so much that I approached a landowner outside of town to share some space with me. Now, after four years on this site, I've covered about 150 x 300 feet in chips. The first year was scary because the slug population exploded. The slugs ate a lot of the more tender seedlings. Fortunately, something balanced out in the subsequent years. The biggest thing I found was that a light sprinkling of chicken manure on the soil before spreading the chips makes a dramatic difference. Everything speeds up. Now, the soil is always rich, moist, and full of earthworms everywhere I dig in. The Strawberries that I get from wood chip covered soil are spectacular. There's been many other successes and some disappointments. There's no way I could water and weed this size of space gardening the old way, so the chips make it possible.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your experience with wood chips Murray. We don't have much trouble with slugs, but the rollie pollies can be a problem for seedlings when there is a lot of rain and cloudy days. Nature does have a way of balancing things out though. I've heard the chicken manure suggestion from a couple of other people. It makes sense. I really do need to get a few chickens.

[@cy6ex]

I presume goat manure would do the same job in speeding up the process.

[@murray_henderson]

@@cy6ex We had goats on the property but they always got loose and began to eat EVERYTHING. I have video of one eating a tomato plant. I also found it standing on hind legs eating my young apple trees. The manure/bedding from chickens is ideal. I suspect goat or even rabbit manure would be good too.

[@mightymouse2893]

Does the chicken manure expedite the wood chips breaking down? Would horse manure provide the same benefit? Pardon my ignorance, its my second year gardening (trying to anyway).

[@murray_henderson]

@@mightymouse2893 I couldn't say that it does or doesn't definitively. I haven't measured this.

[@davidpeckham2405]

My garden eats 4" of wood chips yearly. my soil has improved year after year and I do not till or weed much. I love it

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad that it's worked out well for you too, David. I sure am glad that I tried them.

[@mathusvaiaoga9787]

When you say it eats it. Does it just disappear?? Where does the wood chips go?? does it raise the ground level??

[@TaureanDreams]

@@mathusvaiaoga9787 it breaks down

[@ttss1234]

345 likes and not a single dislike. I appreciate people with years of experience sharing their knowledge. Thank you Sir

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome, and thank you very much for that! Much appreciated! I wasn't aware of the like count, but that's pretty neat.

[@papasbackyardgarden2564]

Great video. In 2018 completely redid my garden and turned the entire backyard into a food forest. lol. I built new beds, a greenhouse and wood chipped the whole backyard. The results are amazing. A handful of weeds a month. Had very sandy soil that could not hold moisture. Now a lush healthy garden, I highly recommend.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your experience! It really can do wonders for very sandy soil.

[@tyn3496]

I just committed to converting approximately 1/2 acre of my land to woodchip gardening. Yes, it was quite the pile of mulch to spread. Hoping to have success next spring. I also invested in chickens to manufacture some fertilizer like Paul Gauchi does.

[@MidwestGardener]

Those chickens should help a bunch. We have talked about getting some several times, but we just haven't done it yet. This pandemic has us thinking about it more though. Good luck with your 1/2 acre. I wish I had about that much room.

[@abulkalamkashim6708]

Thank for your education I have a Alotment and I covered with wood chips and I’m going to plough would it be okay to grow in next February

[@PetalsonthePavingSlabs]

Thank you for putting together a few years worth of footage, its fascinating to see how its changed.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I'm really happy with how my garden has changed for the better. I'm hoping that trend will continue.

[@hanzketchup859]

That’s Great , the wood chips do a lot , once the fungus gets thoroughly established the nutrient exchange between the photosynthesis of the plants and the bacteria and microbes that feed from the sugar exchange (roots exchanging the sugars produced by photosynthesis are exchanged for nutrients the microbes and bacteria gather) the plants are going to be Happy Happy Happy , the living soil will be Happy Happy Happy too ! Cheers , Great video , truth is first hand knowledge , seeing is knowing .. at least a big part of it .

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch! Sounds like you know a lot more of the science behind it than I do. I just go by what my eyes and brain tell me. If I see it's working, I stay with it. It just seems like a more natural way to do things.

[@williampaulhamus7696]

I started wood chip gardening on accident. I was just using wood chips as a mulch to keep weed out between rows of berries bushes. Last year I planted some vegetables in the walkways. I am hooked

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice! I would say that is a pretty happy accident.

[@ashleyg8393]

Not only was this incredibly informative, but very relaxing to listen to.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Ashley! I really appreciate that!

[@Savagekitten77]

O my goodness! Thank you so much for the tip about Bermuda grass and sweet potato vine! Also I just started with wood chips, so your video gives me hope.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I hope it works as well for you as it has for me over the years.

[@PleasantPrickles]

This was amazing to see the evolution of your wood chip journey compiled into one video! Last fall, I overturned some old lounge chairs to repurpose them as raised beds and asked our arborists to fill them with wood chips from a tree we had to have removed. I put a few bags of soil across the very top, coffee grounds from Starbucks and fall leaves. I planted the beds with low expectations in the spring, but even this first year, I have harvested loads of peppers. I’m very impressed with using wood chips in the garden. 🌿🌿🌿😀

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Glad to hear that you are having great results.

[@gschallert3293]

Just added 80 yards of spruce, pine and Doug fir chips to a new food forest on a 1/4 ac plot. Also using grass clipping and organic rice straw which has no weed seed or any seeds. Its a huge mistake to use HAY, which is full of unwanted seeds. Conifers will raise the soil PH so pull the chips back and use straw around new tree plantings. You may want to use an organic pH soil lowering amendment for the first few years while the chip digest. If your in a hurry use 10-10-10 organic fertilizer and apply to surface of the chips and water a lot. The mycelium will explode thus achieving rapid soil regeneration.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's going to be a lot of fun for you to watch. Thanks for the tips.

[@wendyburgess2962]

I love Woodchips. Composting and creating liquid fertiliser is a way of life for me now. I’ve only just started putting them down. Therapeutic indeed working With and for Nature.

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad you appreciate them to, Wendy. Well put in that last sentence!

[@marysurbanchickengarden]

My soil is very compacted and full of roots from trees that are here and the ones cut down over 7 years ago. I've managed to loosen some of it up, but I'm not physically able to do all that is needed and that's the biggest reason I grow so many things in pots and grow bags. Keep it up, it's looking great and can only get better.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch! Growing in pots and grow bags is a great option for a lot of gardening situations. I'm glad you went that route instead of just giving up. Growing things is so beneficial to the body, mind, and soul. I'm looking forward to seeing what this gardening year holds. I hope it's a good one for us both!

[@Dawn00767]

Hi! This is the 3rd or 4th time I’ve watched your video. I’m from Missouri and at age 50, this is my first year of gardening. Because of the quarantine I needed something to do. My dad has a tree care company which my husband now runs, so I have access to lots of wood chips! I wish I had started gardening years ago. Had I known how much easier wood chips made gardening I would have. I’ve covered my garden beds and walkways in cardboard then topped with wood chips, and after only 5 months, if I dig down, I can already see and feel a difference in the soil. So now my husband brings me his stump grindings! 😁 He bought me a little chipper so I can chip small limbs that fall in our yard.👍 Thank you for inspiring me!

[@Dawn00767]

Post note: The chips I’m using are chips that had been dumped on our land about a year ago so decomposing had already started.

[@MidwestGardener]

That is nice that you had some chips that already had a head start.

[@Forestgump12able]

Hello, Mr Midwest Gardener. Ive decided to go wood chips. I now have 4 loads. I told my wife to stop me on 100. When in Dallas, for over 10 years i used Horse manure, with sawdust bedding, for horses. I had a place to gather 16 x 7 x 4ft tall trailer loads of leaves also.My wife saw what happened over a ten year excursions. I built 200 raised beds. Now, in my mid 60,s im into wood chips and im BANKING on this to keep me Healthy Physically and Dietwise. Ive bought 14 chicks for Manure dispersing and im gonna cleanup Burnpiles around town for a little soil and Potash. Applying this on top will allow Bugs, worms to work under the surface. Im gonna put on 4 foot high, just to start. I know i may only end up with 3 inches afterward if im lucky. Ive seen a good many videos but yours takes the Blue Ribbon cake. Thank you, sir. From Southeast Texas, Subtropical area. 40 inches of rain a year. Not including Hurricane Harvey. 56 inches in 10 Days. Bon Appetite

[@MidwestGardener]

Wow, that is diving in head first. I usually recommend people start out with just part of their garden, but the way I look at it is.....it's your garden, and I'm not going to tell you what you can do or not do with it. I don't know what type of soil you have, but if you have sandy type soil, wood chips is a great way to improve it fast......well, in two or three years, if that's fast :) I'm pretty pleased with how wood chips have worked in my garden so far. I hope they work equally as well for you, or even better. The chickens are a great idea! We were thinking of getting some this year, and then the pandemic messed things up for a while. There is always next year. Once you get things up and running, be sure to drop back in and let us know how it's going. Good luck!

[@Forestgump12able]

Yes sir, i can work. Im not afraid. Tell me sir. Whats the worst possibly thing that can go wrong? Really.

[@MidwestGardener]

True.

[@UniCarCycles]

I received 3 loads of free wood chips in 2 years from ChipDrop and I scattered them all in an area of my front yard where it is uneven. And about 3/4 of my backyard is filled with chips. My observation: no mud issue where I placed chips and the worms had come back, I pull the woodchips back and see all kinds of worms. I love your video! ❤️

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing how wood chips worked for you! Nature is fascinating to watch. Yes, wood chips can help those muddy areas too. Thanks for watching!

[@mathusvaiaoga9787]

Did the mud issue ever come back as you dug?? My back yard is a mud pile when it rains. I’m hoping chips will solve the issue

[@mathusvaiaoga9787]

Did the mud issue ever come back as you dug?? My back yard is a mud pile when it rains. I’m hoping chips will solve the issue

[@UniCarCycles]

@@mathusvaiaoga9787 : Hi Marthus, zero mud. I piled the wood chips high enough, about a foot. Over time, the height will go down from just being wet and also from slow decomposition. What I would have done differently should have been to put cardboard on the ground before I piled the chips. I have very stubborn weed/grass that is behaving like a bamboo, I don’t know the name of this annoying weed. It is growing through my woodchips still.

[@cathymarsollier9417]

Another benefit of woodchips. We have an old garage that flooded with a few inches of water every spring (heavy snowfall melt in Alberta, Canada). Last spring I woodchipped a large area around the garage, about half the garden in total, maybe 1000 sqft. For the first time in over 30 years, there was no water at all in the garage this spring.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that, Cathy! That's awesome! I bet that really was nice to see for a change.

[@darleneswetz8325]

Loved listening to your wood chip journey.😃 I had just finished watching hours of Back to Eden with Paul Gautchi. I now have 2 loads of chips which include lots of leaves. 2 days so far and the piles are heating up. Since it is November, I decided to let these compost til spring. I have 2 acres of dirt but when it rains, the weeds quickly take over. I will have more loads coming which will be spread out to 8”, in hopes that we won’t get the flush of weeds that normally com with the rains. Then when spring comes that will be the beginnings of our garden journey. So glad I stumbled upon your video. I wasn’t sure if I wanted to spread out the future piles and this video encouraged me to spread them out with each additional load. Thank you for sharing your wood chip experience 😊

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I hope the wood chips work out as well for you and they have for me. Now I just add a thin layer each year.

[@rosea830]

I love your garden! It's beautiful every time you show it.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch Rose! I'm hoping for a good year this year too :)

[@kcjilly2515]

I’m using wood chips for the first time and I have immediately noticed the benefit. Don’t think I will ever go back to the old way. Enjoy your videos.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch! Glad you are enjoying using wood chips, and the videos. I really like what they've done for our garden. Hope you have a great gardening season.

[@jeffoakes4003]

On my 15 acres, we’re the grazing for my livestock has by far grown the best is where I put wood chips down only 18 months ago! I’m going to spread wood chips everywhere and wait! Im completely sold! Great video!

[@MidwestGardener]

That is awesome! Thanks for sharing how it's worked for you, Jeff!

[@thestupidgardener4642]

I had issues last year with the Bermuda grass. It was a struggle!! Thank you for the tip!!!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! I hope it works as well for you and it has for us.

[@Zilla12]

Thank you for this, I'm converting my front and side yards to wood chips. The sweet potato tip is eye an opener

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!

[@robertslockbower306]

Whenever I have to remove a tree Because of storms or old age! I ask that that that the chute of the chipper be directed into apart my property that is wooded ! In the beginning I thought it would keep the weeds down and it certainly did! Arborists told me 8 years ago he had to pay $50 a load to empty his truck! And he deducted that off the bill. And it also looked great and broke down as you describe in your wonderful video. I use it around all my beds best part it’s free and it terrific exercise. Try to have a load in late winter early fall! Don’t ever need compost pile ! After a few years you can sift it and get free top and potting soil. And it’s free! Try calling around I’ll bet they will deliver free! Looking forward to you next video.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Robert! You just can't beat it if you can get it for free. I used to have a really good free source, but lost that one. Still looking for a dependable replacement. It's great to hear from another person who understands their true value.

[@Ysai0813]

Thank you for sharing your knowledge

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!!

[@LouisianaSpey]

Im going into my 3rd full year of wood chips, i had been using Hay. But after watching and reading about hay contamination from herbicides, i stopped using. When i order my mulch, i ask for the bottom of the pile to be sent. A lot of the mulch is already broken down because it's coming from the lowest level of massive mounds of mulch. I'll be adding a 3rd layer in the winter in preparation for the spring. The only negative are the weeds, and i hope next year that those will be reduced drastically. My soil is becoming more and more fertile aftet each year.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing how wood chips have worked for you. Yes, herbicides can be a problem with hay. I'm glad that the chips are improving your soil. I like what it's done to ours.

[@mrs.t4382]

A thorough and helpful presentation. Thank you.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@luzvigerminal558]

The fresh wood chips is problematic to me but after 2 years and they are good. I love them.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good to hear that they are working for you now.

[@luzvigerminal558]

@@MidwestGardener yes I love them. I’ve use fall leaves too.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@luzvigerminal558 Nice! I love leaves also.

[@KarCar13]

I live kinda far north in 🇨🇦 an my growing season is very short, I mixed about 12" of already old wood chips an mixed compost, chicken poop, grass clippings an alfalfa cubes (rabbit food) into it, I think I've saved a couple seasons of decomposition:) wood chips are awesome

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, that should speed up the process. You should end up with some pretty good stuff to grow in. Thanks for sharing that. Let us know how it works out.

[@antoinettebennett3041]

We just received 3 truck loads of shredded trees from an arborist, all dumped on the front of our property. We have about 1/2 acre of pine trees, and the soil is clay. So far we have spread it 6" deep under the trees, hoping to, over the years, improve the soil. After 4 days, I notice after it rains, the humidity skyrockets around that area. It will get covered by needles, but hopeful the soil becomes enriched. If this works, I will do the rear couple acres of hardwoods.

[@MidwestGardener]

I hope it works well for you! It takes about 3 years for the chips to break down here.

[@antoinettebennett3041]

@@MidwestGardener I am retiring in 3 years, and not doing much, so time is on my side, I wish it would always look as good as it does now. 3 more loads ordered to finish it.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@antoinettebennett3041 Good luck!

[@EricaGates0623]

I was on the fence about getting more wood chips. But now you convinced me 🙂. We have a local dump truck driver bring us some!

[@MidwestGardener]

I hope they work as well for you as they have for us, Erica. I'm looking forward to seeing how year 5 does.

[@SnakeAndTurtleQigong]

Thanks so much

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!

[@Woodchipengineer]

I put down 400 yards of chips in 2020. Best garden I’ve ever had. No watering this year.

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad to hear that it's working for you, James!

[@norxgirl1]

Have had large piles of wood chips for several years, spread out as best I could. Lots of the micorrhyzal fungus, but could be broken down better .....mainly used in garden walkways and around trees for summer moisture retention. Did plant potatoes in trenches with wood chips on sides, potatoes touching soil, and spent goat straw on top of the potatoes. Already sprouted in northern middle Tennessee, but cold snap bit some of them....

[@MidwestGardener]

Yep, they are great for moisture retention. Can't wait for things to get going here. It won't be long.

[@nobletruthshealingandascen183]

Absolutely, a great video. I see to many people dismissing back to Eden Gardening and often I see what mistakes where made for it not to work. Mixing bark in soil, does indeed tie up Nitrogen , mulch should be placed on top and plants sown in soil and enough mulch should be added.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much! I understand. I can't go by result in the garden of other folks. I have to go by what I see with my own eyes in my own garden. And so far, I like what I'm seeing.

[@Meenadevidasi]

Thanks for the sweet potato vine tip.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome!

[@donaldcowick4280]

A Bocking 4 or Bocking 14 Comfrey (which does not spread by seed) can block the intrusion of grass into the beds. It is also a medicinal (commonly called knit-bone), and is a dynamic accumulator which mines minerals from the soil. If you cut the comfrey to compost or spread about in the garden as a chop and drop, it will contribute to nitrogen and mineral content for you soil. This can be done each time the comfrey starts to flower for greatest potency(about 3 times a year).

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the Comfrey tips, Donald!

[@mickybearden9641]

We're trying Wood Chips this year along with one Huglkulture Raised Bed. We have that Bermuda Grass as well, and pulled up what we could, then are placing Cedar Wood Chips over all the Walkways. I won't use Cedar in the Raised Beds, but that's what we had an abundance of for Free. Thank you for a Really Great Video...easy to understand & your Gardens year to year really improved Superbly!!

[@MidwestGardener]

I hope it works well for you Micky. That Bermuda Grass will grow like crazy if it gets out in the wood chips. It can be a constant battle if it get a very strong foothold. Except for that, we have loved the results in our garden. I added another thin layer on our garden last fall.

[@ltlbnsgarden]

It is so amazing to see how fast they start to breakdown . Your garden is the definite proof that they are a positive for the garden. 😊

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch Zule! I like what the chips have done so far.

[@lynn8524]

Stumbled across your channel this morning when looking for BTE gardening videos. I am now a new subscriber. Thanks for the great content. You have a very good narrating voice and I like that you get to the point without overwhelming us with unnecessary dribble.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch for subscribing, Lynn! I really appreciate it. And thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. So many folks never do. I know exactly what you mean about unnecessary dribble. I've seen video about the #1 tip for this or that, and they are 15 minutes long. Does it really take 15 minutes to tell a person 1 tip 😀

[@debklueter1843]

I'm starting raised beds this year with wood chips in between for weed control. We'll see!

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm think they should work great for that.

[@mattmerrick9672]

Great video thanks 👍

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad you enjoyed it!

[@duhaimap1]

This year will be my first full year of using wood chips in my raised beds and in ground garden beds. You and James Pigeroini (*sp) had me convinced last year while watching your videos that they were the right choice for me. Also as I live in a forest with lots of logging activities I have unlimited access to mountains of decomposed wood chips for free even delivered with no charge. So this year all but 2 of my garden beds are covered in chips and I expect great results. Thanks for all your videos I consider you a mentor and a role model. I wish I had your video graphical skills.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much for those very kind words! That means a lot to me. Sounds like you have a pretty sweet place to live. You are living the dream, man! Enjoy what you have. I will try to drop by and check out your videos if I find some time.

[@greenthumbelina7331]

Jim, I found your channel about a year ago. I've watched quite a few of your older videos but didn't know about your use of wood chips in the garden. Your garden looks fantastic! I think wood chips between some new raised garden beds (not built yet) would be great for suppressing weeds. I bought materials late last fall to build raised beds this spring! I'll be making them using cement blocks, (6"x16"x8") 2 rows high with staggered joints. My plan is to use concrete glue to hold them together and add 2"x8"x16" pavers on top for a place to sit. I think I'll also put several layers of heavy plastic around the inside to keep the cement block from leaching any contaminants into the soil. Jim, any ideas or suggestions you (or your viewers) can give are welcome and greatly appreciated.

[@MidwestGardener]

Sounds like you have your work cut out for you Margie. The wood chips will help with the weeds, but they do break down in a few years, so to keep the weed suppressing benefits, you would have to add more wood chips. You can could put plastic below the wood chips, but once the chips turn into soil, the weeds will still sprout. If you put a heavy layer of cardboard down before the chips, it will help kill any weeds or grass that are there now, and will help with things like nutsedge. Those weeds are just relentless :) As for the raised beds, I don't have any experience with them, so I will leave that to others to offer any suggestions.

[@epicstories-i7b]

Great video. Honest, too the point and applicable worldwide. In I'm South Africa. I've just subscribed.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch, Dale! I really appreciate it. It's always great to hear from folks in South Africa! You're probably starting your growing season over there, instead of coming to an end like we are.

[@xaviercruz4763]

If youd like 👍🏻 to take a look, this i selectively search for a good looking ground cover that would not need mowing that would take a little drought and not disturb the main crops for water borrowing much, so among those plants are one called -scleranthus uniflorus (not biflorus version) and they sell seeds for it -elfin thyme (which seems to be a tad shorter creeping thyme, but sold by the plant) These two are from mediterranean like weather where there is almost no rain in the summers when its hot 🥵 so these plants should not bother the others of who uses them. These are like competitors once stablished for the weed seeds landing from the air into the garden. Most beautiful little plants, specially the first. I didnt recommend irish moss or corsican mint (amazing smell) because they are not super drought tolerant, but surely you can look those out too. Very beautiful if you ever wished for something cool to check.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip, Xavier! I would have to see somebody else have success with using them before I would want to give it a try.

[@elizabethsansom6447]

PS forgot to mention thank you for making the video. Paul Couching mentions termites will not live in Woodchips. Only live wood or stress tree. That’s on its way out.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yes, good point. I've never seen a single termite in our garden.

[@davidpruitt3982]

This will be my second year growing in wood chips and I am glad that I chose to put them down. I just need to get the other half of my graden covered with them. Have a great weekend Jim. 👍🏻🇺🇸

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad that they are working out for you David. I'm sure glad that I started using them. You have a great weekend too!

[@Just-Nikki]

David Pruitt are you the person I talked to about planting peas in a bucket? I have meant to ask you that for a while and keep forgetting.

[@davidpruitt3982]

@@Just-Nikki No I am not the person,but if I can help with a question, please let me know.

[@Just-Nikki]

David Pruitt that’s very kind of you to offer. I had given them advice actually and for some reason I thought it was you. I am a novice still so I may take you up on that some time 😄

[@davidpruitt3982]

@@Just-Nikki sounds great, I like to help if I can.

[@EricWhiteChooseGod1st]

A great observation on the sweet potatoes. I will keep that in mind. Thanks Jim.

[@MidwestGardener]

They save me a lot of work and give me another crop too.

[@isabelladavis1363]

thanks for sharing quite a beautiful garden we are headed that way ourselves..best wishes!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome Isabella! I hope it works as well for you as it has for us.

[@rolandcdt]

I have to say…your voice reminds me of the Mark Goodwin, book Narrator. Love it!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Roland! I get a lot of comments about my voice. When I first started doing videos, I didn't talk because I didn't like the sound of my own voice :)

[@spoolsandbobbins]

Fantastic video!! We have similar soil and it gets hot here so we’ve been trucking in wood chips all winter to cover the gardens. This video encourages me!

[@MidwestGardener]

Awesome! I hope it works out well for you!

[@raqueliatheimpatientgardne8196]

Just found your channel and am happy to see someone else had the same issues as I have, waiting for the soil to be ready for planting. I still have a few years to go so am starting raised beds in the meantime but you gave me encouragement, thanks!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for watching and leaving a comment, Raquelia. Good luck with your raised beds.

[@Woodchipengineer]

Great info. I too, fortified my perimeter, eliminating pest problems (ground hogs), for now.

[@MidwestGardener]

Yep, those animals can be a pain in the butt sometimes.

[@rabbitman420]

Amazing video again using beneficial plants to combat bad ones or parasites

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you Jake! I try to get along with nature when I can. Sometimes the insects start enjoying my food before I get a chance to eat it though. Then I have to intervene. But even then, I try to do it organically as much as possible.

[@delindasmith5993]

I was able to get a load of free wood chips. I spread them throughout all of my existing floral gardens, and the new vegetable garden for next year 2023. I looking forward to this journey.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good luck, DeLinda! I hope they work as well for you as they have for me.

[@delindasmith5993]

Thank you.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@delindasmith5993 You're welcome!

[@bingster-223]

I mulched my entire backyard last year, for weed and grass suppression. I grew a container garden in this section i used mulch from Lowes. It worked no more grass or weeds but now my neighbor started a small tree trimming business and I'm getting as much woodchips as I can manage. I've removed most of the Lowes mulch and have added about 12 inches of woodchips instead. My inground garden will also be mulched with the woodchips. I just chopped up all the garden and covered the soil, a few days later i shredded leaves and covered it with them. I'll have 2 areas where I can pile them up. The loads with leaves in one pile and mostly hardwood on another pile. I'll have to go through your channel and watch the woodchips journey.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's great that you have a handy source of wood chips. I'll be interested to hear what you think in about 3 years or so. That's about when I noticed the full benefits. My source for wood chips disappeared, so I'm scrambling trying to find a new one.

[@NapoleonGARDENINGTV]

Thanks for sharing the advantages of mulching, with woodchips ! Keep inspiring gardeners!

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching!

[@coralleonard5981]

Sweet potato vines. I'm going to try it!

[@MidwestGardener]

It works for me.

[@timlee5260]

I started useing wood mulch this year. It is double ground and aged so I have high hopes. I get it from my local recycling facility for $26 a load and they load it. They say it is a yard, but it is way more than that.

[@MidwestGardener]

Nice! I hope it works as well for you as it has for me.

[@timlee5260]

@@MidwestGardener I’m like you, used a tiller and fought the weeds, time for something better.

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

Good morning Jim. I didn't know there were termites up there. We have them "Big Time" in Louisiana. Looks like the wood chips and no dig has done wonders for your garden. Best wishes Bob.

[@MidwestGardener]

Good morning Bob. Yes, we have them up here, but probably not as bad as you guys do down there. I'm happy with the way everything worked out in the garden. It does better for me now, and it seems like I'm not working as hard at it.

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

@@MidwestGardener Less work is a good thing. As the years pass I'm not as fast as I used to be.

[@MidwestGardener]

Less work, or no work, lol. Yep, me too :) Mother nature and father time have a way of slowing us down.

[@Just-Nikki]

BobMel simple living are they the size of VW bugs like y’all’s mosquitoes?

[@BobMelsimpleliving.]

WOW. 😱

[@SD-co9xe]

I have transformed my clay soil with arborist woodchips. It is now a beautiful dark loam.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's great to hear! It can do wonder with clay or sandy soil.

[@50sKid]

Jim, take a look a one of Gary's soil videos at the Gary's Best Gardening channel. It will really bring it all together for you.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip.

[@JudiintheKitchen]

Thank you for sharing your experience! Your video is informative and very helpful :)

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Thank you for the kind words, Judi!

[@gerdaho1]

I am starting with woodchips (well, mainly rotted wood I drag in from a forest, spread over chunks of bark I pick up where the logging trucks have loaded) and I hope in a few years to grow a food-forest where now the weedy lawn dries up and leaves rock hard soil to bake in the sun during the increasingly frequent heatwaves. Your video gives me a lot of info and is very well made. Thanks for uploading.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! Good luck with turning a barren patch of ground into a food forest. Sounds like a worthwhile project to me.

[@willow8094]

Stunning garden !

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much!

[@johnthehotty]

Thank you for making these videos! I moved to northern Indiana last year with my wife and daughter and am excited to get growing this year! I appreciate your videos as I am new to the area and would like to learn about it, versus the numerous videos in other, dissimilar climates.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome John! I'm glad that you found my channel. I'm really excited about the upcoming season. I'm hoping that we have better weather for growing things than we had last year. Good luck with your garden!!

[@vonries]

I hope things are going as well as you thought they would or even better. Good luck too you.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! I'm happy with how things are so far. I hope things are going well for you too!

[@vonries]

@@MidwestGardener Yes I started my wood chip adventure last year. I mixed coffee/tea grounds into my chips and it really seemed to help with the breakdown of the wood chips. My one year chips looked liked your two year old chips (in some areas). I ordered my second year chips from Chipdrop just like the year before. However what was dropped off was a mixture 60%-80% Spanish moss and the rest chips. I have tried to compost the "moss" but it just doesn't want to break down any further. I'm left with a mass of strings all balled up and a knotted mess. I keep adding nitrogen in the form of garden scraps, kitchen scraps, coffee/tea grounds, etc. I have basically run it through about 3 or 4 compost cycles, but it is to slow to break down. It still looks like the end of the first compost cycles results. It's frustrating but all good things in due time I guess. The only other problem I have is I'm afraid to add more wood chips because I'm afraid my strawberries will get buried if I add them as mulch again. I don't want my crowns to rot.

[@MidwestGardener]

@@vonries It sounds like you are doing well except for the bad batch. I can understand why you would be hesitant to add more to strawberries. It wouldn't take much to burry them.

[@AnneGoggansQHHT]

I’ve got deep chips in an area too. I’ve noticed better growth if I transplant with a few scoops of compost with fertilizer in each hole so the plant has something

[@MidwestGardener]

It should really improve that clay soil of yours.

[@mushethecowboycook9353]

been using woodchips for over 20 years and before that i used leaves

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that, Norman! You've probably got some pretty good soil.

[@mphil8433]

Nice!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@FriendlyCleaningKC]

I just did a google search for tree services near me and called the closet one... they deliver all the chips I want to my house no charge. We’ve got a pretty impressive mountain of them right now... I spread 3 or 4 wheel barrows full 4 nights a week.

[@MidwestGardener]

That's pretty nice that you were able to find a free source of wood chips so quickly! I hope growing in wood chips works as well for you as it has for me.

[@myhillsidegarden3998]

Jim, I have always enjoyed visiting you in your garden and I would say, woodchips can be the way to go. We are planning to begin a garden area with wood chips this year to help with the weed issue and ease of care. Thanks for sharing. Catherine

[@MidwestGardener]

Ease of care is one big reason I started using them. It doesn't totally eliminate the need to weed, but it sure does help. I'll be interested to hear how it works out for you guys once you have the area up and running. It won't be long and we can get out there and play in the dirt.

[@svetlanikolova7673]

God Bless your heart!! Please stay this sweet and thank you so much for the tour. It seems you are a good student and God rewarded you in full! Greetings from Bulgaria

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much, Svetla! I hope I've been a good student. I do feel like God has blessed me in many ways. I hope life is treating you well in Bulgaria. Thanks very for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@svetlanikolova7673]

@@MidwestGardener Thank you. Bulgaria is my home . God bless you abundantly brother

[@MidwestGardener]

Same to you :)

[@NaturallyNicool]

Wonderful video. Educational, clear, and enjoyable. Thank you for sharing!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the kind words, Nicole! I really appreciate it!

[@fortheearth]

Nice garden! Very useful information. Thanks.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you! I'm glad that you enjoyed it.

[@kimwilliams7051]

Good video 👍

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Kim!

[@sherryfelch750]

Ty for your tips and advice.👍🏻

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome Sherry! Thanks for watching!

[@scottfoss716]

Excellent video Jim. Thanks!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch Scott!!

[@jovallepuhrmann1129]

I just made the commitment to wood chips last fall. Looking forward to this spring.

[@MidwestGardener]

I hope you enjoy the journey as much as I have. I think is works especially well if you have poor soil to begin with. I have a pile out by the garden ready to spread out right now.

[@Nerfaddict86]

I like it my first year of doing it with red cedar and pine bark wood chips mulch it’s breaking down so fast so during this year I have to add another 4-5” worth it everything in my garden loves it I recommend this for everyone

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad that it's working out for you, Robert!

[@Nerfaddict86]

Thanks one thing I did for it to work this year was I filled for the last time with about 8 cups of blood meal to put in the soil and I layered my wood chips and I added 20 lbs of chicken manure on top of the wood chips to have them start breaking down. Anyone who disagree with people like us on here then they don’t really know how to do this method as of tonight I lost count after 94 tomatoes on 12 tomato plants my celery looks so healthy and lot bigger then the store boughten stuff

[@mikim3241]

Great information for me. I have taken out two large tree this summer and I have so much wood chips for the garden. I need some muscles.

[@MidwestGardener]

I'm glad that it was useful :) Yes, the work moving it around is the worst part.

[@lovethegarden.kumariyeline4835]

Good guidence.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks you very much!

[@jimmyfaulkner5746]

What i wanted to see thank you

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Glad I could help, Jimmy!

[@jimmyfaulkner5746]

@MidwestGardener my allotment had compacted soil and terrible flooding . Two years ago I dug out 8inch deep pathways between beds and filled with woodchips ,topped up this winter solved the flooding but digging them out to see the effect on the soil underneath doesn't Give an accurate indication of what I could expect for muching on the surface around plants . You've done it , I've seen it and now I am going to copy you . Cheers

[@vickiperkins476]

Great video!! Thanks much 😊👍

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you Vicki! And you're welcome 😀

[@myname7863]

Great video. I started b2e fall 2018. Love it. Same sandy soil in Miami. I rarely water, now. Mainly from a 55gal barrel here and there. TFS

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks! I'm glad that it's working for you too. I wish I would have discovered wood chips many years ago. It does wonders for sandy soil.

[@JesusLovingHomesteader]

Looks Wonderful!

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you!

[@SashaDeKasha]

What a wonderful video ! I so look forward to your upcoming gardening season ❤️

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Sasha. I'm really looking forward to getting out there and playing in the dirt again.

[@SashaDeKasha]

Midwest Gardener almost there 😍

[@sn232]

How many sweet potatoes did you plant, roughly when do you plant sweet potatoes, how far apart, how deep, just a cutting or whole, do you dig them up in the fall, etc? That is exactly what I've been looking for! I was going to use wood chips but then saw a video of how invasive bermuda grass can be in the wood chips. Any details you can give is greatly appreciated...and I am so appreciative of your video! Thank you!

[@MidwestGardener]

I've been growing my sweet potatoes in straw bales of the last several years with good success. I plant 3 slips in each straw bale. I will be harvesting in the next few weeks....not sure exactly when yet. I'm not sure what you mean by invasive in wood chips. Sweet potatoes do like to sprawl out in all directions no mater what you plant them in.

[@sn232]

@@MidwestGardener I am sorry, I just had to alter my question to make sense. At 6:40 in your video you discuss keeping bermuda grass out of the garden using sweet potatoes. I was watching another video warning that bermuda grass can be a nuisance/nightmare in a garden using wood chips, if a border of some sort is not used to keep it out of the garden. You mentioned finding out by accident that planting a border of sweet potatoes crowds out the bermuda grass. That was what I was asking for details about (although I definitely was not being clear about it ;)). Can you please tell me how many rows deep of sweet potatoes did you plant in your border, how far apart, did you just pop them into the soil, how wide of a border is needed to keep bermuda out, and do you dig them up, are you still using them as a way to control bermuda grass from creeping into your garden? Any advice on how to specifically plant these to help prevent bermuda grass from creeping in would be helpful for us :)

[@johnmartin9090]

Great content! Look forward to seeing your Abundance in 2020

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch, John! I hope we both have an abundant year!

[@gracereborn2150]

Nice narration

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks Tatiana!

[@Just-Nikki]

The wood chips are great. You can also bury them about 8-10 inches down to retain water, we have done that with SMALL shredded chips. I put the big chips on top and bury compost and small chips and I don’t water nearly as often now. It takes a while like you said but I have noticed a difference. I like the sweet potato border, I may try it this year.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing that Nikki! It's always good to hear what works for other folks. Yes, less water is definitely one benefit of using wood chips. Yep, the sweet potato is worth a shot. I like it much better than fighting with Bermuda grass.

[@Just-Nikki]

Midwest Gardener I just came home from the dollar store and couldn’t wait to tell you that they have the stackable tier planters there. I grabbed 20 for my dwarf tomatoes, strawberries, dwarf peas and lettuces and tea garden. I know you’re doing a lot of dwarf varieties this year so I thought you might be interested. 😁

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks a bunch for the tip!. I will have to check out our local store and see what they have. It will be a while before I'm ready to plant much, but it doesn't hurt to be ready. Thanks again.

[@MidwestGardener]

I thought I would let you know that I grabbed some of those stackable planters. I think they would be too small for the dwarf tomatoes, but they might be just right for some micro tomatoes that I'm planning to grow this year. They only get 6 to 9 inches tall. Thanks again for the tip. It was hard to beat that price.

[@MrGuy-cp1gt]

Where a person is going to plant in their row, pulling back wood chips, and digging in manure /mulch ,seed, then draw back wood chips, it's a very good😀.

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for the tip.

[@mushethecowboycook9353]

Wood chips are great I regrind them sometimes in a chipper and you can see an urban farm using them at Raleigh city farm. It is on youtube under Josh Sattin. It is worth seeing the use of wood chips in use

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks for sharing your experience with them, Norman. They've worked really well in our Sandy Loam soil.

[@prabhus2751]

Good info

[@MidwestGardener]

Thanks!

[@1CBAITY]

Beautiful garden

[@MidwestGardener]

Thank you very much!

[@Guiller369]

This fall I’ll try in my mango orchard, thanks a lot for your video. Best regards from Sinaloa, Mx.

[@MidwestGardener]

You're welcome! Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment!

[@alph8654]

I could get lost in a mango orchard at harvest time !!!!

[@Guiller369]

@@alph8654 harvest time is in summer

[@stegershomeandgarden.6971]

Good Morning Jim!!! I'm using wheat straw in my raised beds. I've noticed that it's helping keep the winter weeds down but the remnant wheat seed in the bale sprouts,however it's pretty easy to pull it up. I'm even thinking of using it in my larger garden in the back to help suppress the crabgrass. Nice informative video. Enjoy your weekend!!!

[@MidwestGardener]

Good morning! Yes, wheat straw works too. I'd rather pull wheat that a lot of the other weeds. And that crab grass sprouts everywhere around here. I hope you have a great weekend too!