New bed, fresh start! If you’re setting up a garden from scratch, mulching with wood chips is one of the smartest moves you can make. This beginner’s guide to wood chips gives you clear, step-by-step instructions on how to mulch a garden bed so it holds moisture, stays cooler in summer, suppresses weeds, and builds richer soil over time. Perfect for mulching a new garden bed at home.

Why Choose Wood Chips?

  • Excellent moisture retention and temperature buffering
  • Top-tier weed suppression when applied at the right depth
  • Long-lasting (slower to break down than straw/sugarcane)
  • Builds soil as it decomposes into humus

Tip: Use clean, untreated wood chips (arborist chips or composted bark/wood blend). Avoid dyed or contaminated products near edibles.

What You’ll Need

  • Wood chips (see “How much to buy” below)
  • Garden fork or spade
  • Rake (landscape rake if available)
  • Hose/watering can (or drip/soaker hose)
  • Optional: compost (2–3 cm), soil wetting agent (for hydrophobic soils), edging materials, cardboard or weed mat (selectively)

Step-by-Step: Mulching a New Garden Bed (Wood Chips)

1. Mark Out & Prepare the Bed

  • Define the shape and install edging if desired (steel/plastic/timber).
  • Remove tough weeds (rhizomatous grasses, nutgrass) by hand—roots and all.
  • Loosen soil lightly with a fork (don’t over-till). If soil is dry, water deeply.

2. Improve the Base (Optional but Ideal)

  • Spread 2–3 cm of compost over the soil to kickstart biology and structure.
  • If water beads on the surface, apply a soil wetting agent before mulching.

3. Lay Irrigation (Best Practice)

  • Place drip line or soaker hose on the soil surface. Mulch goes on top.
  • Test the system briefly so you know it’s delivering water evenly.

4. Plant First, Then Mulch

  • Set plants to their correct depth and water them in.
  • Gently firm soil around roots and top up soil level if needed.

5. Apply Wood Chips (The Right Depth)

  • Spread wood chips 5–7 cm deep for general beds.
  • Around veg/seedling areas, use 3–5 cm so stems aren’t buried.
  • Keep a 5–10 cm gap around stems and trunks (no “mulch volcanoes”).
  • Rake to an even, level finish.

6. Water the Mulch In

  • Give the entire bed a thorough soak to settle chips and remove air gaps.
  • Check that irrigation still runs freely beneath the mulch.

7. Top Up & Maintain

  • Inspect depth each season. Top up when coverage drops below 3–4 cm.
  • Pull chips back from stems as plants thicken. Keep the collar clear.

How Much Wood Chip to Buy?

As a guide, 1 cubic metre covers:

  • ~20 m² at 5 cm depth
  • ~14 m² at 7 cm depth

Formula:
 Area (m²) × Depth (m) = Volume (m³)
 Example: 12 m² × 0.05 m = 0.6 m³

Where to Use a Weed Barrier (and Where Not To)

  • Cardboard/newspaper: Useful over weedy patches; overlap sheets by 10–15 cm, wet thoroughly, then mulch on top.
  • Weed mat: OK for paths or non-planting zones. Avoid underactive garden beds—it can restrict root and soil life exchange.

Best Practices & Pro Tips

  • Fresh arborist chips are fine on the surface. If you’re concerned about nitrogen tie-up in veg beds, sprinkle a light organic fertiliser before mulching.
  • Don’t mix chips into soil—keep them on top. Mixing can bind nitrogen right where roots feed.
  • Keep chips away from house slabs to minimise termite risk (regional).
  • For young seedlings, start thinner (3 cm) and add more as plants establish.
  • On slopes, pin with jute mesh or create gentle contour berms to prevent slippage.

Common Mistakes (and Easy Fixes)

  • Mulch volcanoes around trunks → stem rot and pests.

    • Fix: Create a donut: clear collar of 5–10 cm around stems/trunks.

  • Too thin (<3 cm) → weeds push through.

    • Fix: Top up to 5–7 cm.

  • Too thick (>10 cm) → reduced airflow, water repellence.

    • Fix: Rake back to the sweet spot.

  • Dry, hydrophobic soil under mulch → water won’t penetrate.

    • Fix: Pre-soak soil and use a wetting agent before mulching.

  • Skipping irrigation under mulch → water struggles to reach roots.

    • Fix: Install drip/soaker lines on soil, then mulch over.

Safety & Sourcing

  • Wear gloves and a dust mask if you’re handling very dry chips.
  • Source clean, local wood chips; composted bark/wood blends are excellent for ornamentals and trees.

Maintenance Schedule (Simple)

  • Seasonally (Autumn/Spring): Top up to 5–7 cm.
  • Summer: Patch thin, sun-baked areas; check irrigation flow.
  • After heavy rain/wind: Rake back displaced chips; repair edges.

Quick Checklist

  • Bed edged, weeds removed, soil lightly loosened
  • Compost (2–3 cm) added and soil pre-watered
  • Drip/soaker hose placed on soil and tested
  • Plants installed and watered in
  • Wood chips spread to 5–7 cm (3–5 cm around veg)
  • Clear 5–10 cm gap around stems/trunks
  • Mulch watered in thoroughly
  • Depth checked and topped up seasonally

Need Mulch?

Diggers Landscape Supplies has the mulch you need — in stock and ready to go. Order now and get the right mix for garden beds, top-dress, turf underlay, and more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Not when used on the surface. Nitrogen tie-up is primarily at the chip–soil interface; a light organic feed before mulching or a compost under-layer avoids issues.

Yes—use a finer, well-composted chip and keep to 3–5 cm. Maintain a clear collar around tender stems.

Typically 6–18 months depending on climate and chip size. Top up to maintain coverage.

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