Earlier this month, we received a gigantic mound of wood chips, bigger than we've ever received in the past. This mound (or hill) covered our entire extra driveway and part of the garage, so it blocks my husband's car.

photo by Vic Saravia

After 3 loads of pickup trucks, bags, and buckets taken by friends and friends of friends, we're still left with about 1/3 of what's in the picture. Between my husband and myself, we've been getting good work-out bagging, moving, and mulching our garden.

Wood chips are great mulch or covering for the soil. They break down slowly and improve the soil texture slowly by adding organic matter. It also gives the landscape a much more cohesive look.

I've also started digging-up the front yard to create a bioswale that will be filled with wood chips to help capture some of the rainwater and keep it on the property. It will also help give us back our driveway.