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You might be wondering, what are wood chips exactly? Wood chips are small, roughly uniform pieces of wood that have been chopped or chipped from logs, branches, and bark using a wood chipper. Depending on the source material and chip size, they can be used as mulch, animal bedding, biofuel, playground surfacing, loose-fill insulation, and much more.
Wood chips are organic, renewable, and biodegradable. Because they are made from trees—a renewable resource—they are considered a sustainable and environmentally friendly material when sourced from responsibly managed forests, reforestation projects, or urban tree trimming operations that would otherwise become waste.
In this article, we explore the different types of wood chips, the tree species used to make them, how wood chips were used in the past, modern industrial uses, their insulating and soil-health benefits, sizing and texture, and practical tips for gardeners, landowners, and biomass energy projects.
There are several major categories of wood chips—hardwood chips, softwood chips, bark chips, and flavored or scented chips—each with its own characteristics, benefits, and best-use cases.
Hardwood chips are made from deciduous trees such as oak, maple, ash, and basswood. They are dense and heavy, making them ideal where durability matters, such as long-lasting landscape mulch, playground surfacing, and slow-decomposing garden paths. Hardwood chips tend to break down more slowly and provide long-term weed suppression.
Softwood chips come from coniferous trees like spruce, white pine, and loblolly pine. These chips are generally lighter and somewhat softer, making them easier to spread and ideal for uses such as animal bedding, loose-fill insulation, and short-rotation biomass energy feedstock.
Bark chips are produced exclusively from tree bark. Coarse bark mulch is popular in landscaping due to its rich, natural appearance and its ability to retard weed growth, protect soil, and retain moisture. Bark chips, especially from species like pine and cedar, are commonly used around shrubs, trees, and ornamental beds where a long-lasting, decorative mulch layer is desired.
Fruitwood chips (often referred to as flavored chips) are made from apple, peach, cherry, pear, or other fruit trees. They are prized for smoking meats and vegetables because fruitwood imparts a mild, fragrant flavor. These chips are often sold as “BBQ wood chips,” used in smokers, grills, and outdoor kitchens.
Some wood chips also come from urban tree waste—tree trimming, utility line clearing, and storm clean-up. These mixed-species chips can be excellent for large-scale mulching, erosion control, and trail surfacing as long as they are weed-free and not treated or painted.
Wood chips and small offcuts have played a role in many cultures for centuries. In some traditional communities, wood fragments and carved pieces were used in trade or barter, symbolizing a connection between people and the forest that sustained them.
By the Middle Ages, wood pieces and chips were being used as insulation and bedding material. They helped fill wall cavities, insulated floors, and provided low-cost bedding for livestock. In addition, wood chips and shavings were used for cooking and heating due to their excellent heat retention and ease of ignition.
With the emergence of the Industrial Revolution, wood chips became a critical raw material in the pulp and paper industry. Logs were debarked, chipped, and processed into pulp, which was then pressed into paper and cardboard. This industrial use of wood chips marked a major turning point and laid the foundation for today’s global paper and packaging markets.
Today, wood chips are used across a wide range of industries, from agriculture and landscaping to energy production and green building.
In the energy sector, wood chips are a key component of renewable biofuel systems. When sourced from sustainably managed forests or waste wood, they can be part of a low-carbon energy strategy and can integrate into agroforestry and biomass-based planting systems.
In limited and carefully controlled situations, fiber from wood chips can supplement animal feed, especially for ruminants like cows and sheep that can digest woody fibers better than monogastric animals. However, this is a specialized practice that should always be guided by an experienced livestock nutritionist.
Where permitted and appropriate, the process generally involves chipping the wood into very small, digestible pieces (around one-eighth to one-quarter inch). The chips are then soaked and sometimes pre-treated to remove or reduce any harmful compounds. Once prepared, they can be blended into a ration to increase fiber content and improve rumen function.
Only certain non-toxic species—such as some poplars and willows—are suitable for this type of use. Many trees, including yew and some ornamentals, are toxic to livestock. Never feed wood chips to animals without confirming species safety and consulting a qualified professional.
The internal cellular structure of wood allows wood chips to trap air, which makes them an effective natural insulating material. When tumbled and settled into a cavity, the air pockets between chips help slow heat transfer.
Wood chips have been used historically as loose-fill insulation in attics and walls. In modern natural building, chipped wood often appears in light-clay or chip-clay walls where chips are mixed with clay slip and tamped into forms. This creates a breathable, insulating wall material used in straw-bale hybrids, timber-frame infill, and cob-style buildings.
Wood chips also provide sound insulation. Their irregular shapes and air pockets absorb sound waves, reduce echo, and dampen noise. As a result, wood-fiber and chip-based acoustic panels are used in studios, theaters, and other spaces where sound quality matters.
The size and texture of wood chips strongly influence how they behave and where they work best. In general, chips are categorized as small, medium, or large, and can be either smooth or coarse.
The surface texture of a chip also matters. Smooth, uniform chips create a clean, decorative look and are gentle underfoot. Rough, jagged chips interlock more firmly and are preferred for functional uses like insulation, erosion control, or coarse pathways where you want chips to stay put.
Small- and medium-sized wood chips are often colored or painted to enhance their aesthetic appeal and match specific landscape design themes. Dyed mulch can help define garden beds, highlight walkways, or complement building colors.
Colored chips are widely used in landscaping and gardening projects. They come in earth tones (brown, black, and red) as well as brighter hues. When choosing colored chips, it is essential to ensure that the stain or dye is non-toxic and water-based, especially if the wood chips are used in vegetable gardens or other edible landscapes.
Colored wood chips are also popular for craft projects. They can be glued onto surfaces to create mosaics, collages, wall art, and educational displays in schools and nature centers.
Beyond appearance, wood chips can be scented or infused to enhance their sensory appeal. Scented wood chips are used in aromatherapy, wellness practices, pest control, and outdoor cooking.
Aromatherapy wood chips are created by infusing chips with essential oils. The oils are absorbed by the wood and gradually released into the air. Popular oils include lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus for clarity, cedar for grounding, and citrus oils for an uplifting aroma.
In aromatherapy, scented wood chips are used to create a calm, restorative environment. They can be placed in bowls, sachets, or mesh bags, added to saunas and steam rooms, or gently warmed to release their fragrance. They are also used in drawers, closets, and storage boxes to impart a pleasant, natural scent.
Some scents—especially cedar, eucalyptus, and certain conifers—have mild insect-repelling properties, helping discourage moths, fleas, and rodents. Strategically using scented chips in gardens or around buildings can support low-impact pest management.
Flavored wood chips are increasingly popular for smokers, grills, and barbecues. Hickory, maple, mesquite, cherry, apple, and oak are among the most common. These smoking wood chips add depth and character to meats, vegetables, and plant-based proteins.
Composting is another high-value use for wood chips. They are a rich source of carbon (“brown” material), which balances nitrogen-rich “green” materials like kitchen scraps, grass clippings, and manure.
In a balanced compost pile, wood chips help create air pockets, prevent compaction, and moderate moisture. This encourages the growth of beneficial microorganisms that break down organic matter into dark, crumbly compost.
As a rule of thumb, wood chips might make up roughly one-third of the total compost volume. Smaller chips decompose faster; large chips decompose more slowly and are best reserved for paths or long-term mulch. Regular turning of the compost helps ensure even decomposition.
Wood chips are highly absorbent, making them useful for cleaning spilled fluids, especially in outdoor or workshop settings. They are excellent at absorbing water, oil, and other liquids.
To clean a spill, simply spread a layer of wood chips over the liquid. Over time, the chips will soak up the fluid. Once saturated, they can be swept or shoveled up and disposed of appropriately. This technique is especially useful for absorbing mud, manure slurry, or minor oil leaks in areas where synthetic absorbents are not available.
Burning wood chips is a common practice in rural areas and in dedicated biomass boilers. It provides a cost-effective way to generate heat and dispose of clean wood waste.
One of the main benefits of burning wood chips is renewable energy production. Hardwood chips have a relatively high energy content. In the right equipment—such as modern high-efficiency boilers and combined heat-and-power (CHP) systems—wood chips can produce heat and electricity for farms, schools, greenhouses, and district heating networks.
However, burning wood chips must be done responsibly. Poorly controlled burning can create smoke and particulate pollution. Using clean, untreated chips in certified stoves or boilers with proper emission controls helps minimize air-quality impacts and maximizes efficiency.
Wood chips also make an effective and sustainable fire starter. They ignite quickly and burn steadily, making them ideal for starting campfires, wood stoves, and charcoal grills.
To use wood chips as a fire starter, place a small pile of dry chips at the base of your fire lay. Light the chips with a match or lighter and allow them to catch. Once a strong flame is established, add kindling and larger logs. This approach reduces dependence on lighter fluid and synthetic fire starters.
Making your own wood chips is straightforward if you have access to branches, small logs, or sawmill waste and a chipper. Here’s a basic step-by-step guide:
Wood chip machines, commonly called wood chippers, are designed to process branches and small logs into chips. They range from small electric homeowner units to large tow-behind drum chippers used by arborists and forestry crews.
Disc chippers use a spinning steel disc with knives to slice wood into chips. They are excellent for small- to medium-sized material and produce fairly uniform chips. Drum chippers use a rotating drum with cutting blades, excel at high-volume production, and are often used in industrial operations and pulp mills.
When choosing a wood chipper, consider:
Wood chips are a versatile and sustainable resource with dozens of practical uses. From mulch, animal bedding, and soil-building compost to loose-fill insulation, erosion control, bioenergy, and craft projects, wood chips turn what was once a waste material into a valuable, multi-purpose product.
Used thoughtfully and sourced from responsible forestry or tree plantations, wood chips help close the loop on forest products, improve soils, and support low-carbon energy systems. They are a prime example of how working with trees—rather than against them—can create economic, ecological, and practical benefits on farms, in cities, and across the landscape.
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