Natural Wood Chips in Wrentham, MA

Natural wood chips are the practical choice for big areas. They cover ground quickly, they are undyed, and the chunky pieces stay where you put them. So if you have a long path or a wooded edge to cover, wood chips are hard to beat.

What are natural wood chips?

These are chipped pieces of wood rather than shredded bark. Because the pieces are larger and flatter, the layer is loose and airy. As a result, water drains through easily and the surface stays firm to walk on.

The color starts light tan to honey brown and weathers to silver gray over time. That natural aging is part of the appeal, since chips blend into woods and meadows instead of standing out.

Wood chips are not meant to look as polished as bed mulch. Instead, they are about coverage, comfort underfoot and a natural look. In fact, many people use chips in the back yard and dressier mulch out front.

Popular uses for wood chips

Here is where wood chips earn their keep:

• Walking paths through gardens and woods
• Wide beds where cost per yard matters
• Around swing sets and play areas (ask us about depth)
• Dog runs and side yards
• Woodland edges and naturalized areas
• Paths between raised vegetable beds

How much wood chips do I need?

First, measure the length and width of the area in feet and multiply them to get square feet. Then multiply by the depth in inches and divide by 324. The answer is cubic yards, which is how the yard sells wood chips. Wood chips settle more than fine mulch, so plan on 3 inches for beds and closer to 4 inches for paths.

For example, a 20 by 25 foot area is 500 square feet. At 3 inches deep, that works out to about 4.5 yards. In practice, we suggest rounding up by half a yard, because edges, low spots and settling always take a little extra. Still, if the math feels off, call (774) 372-1050 and we will work it out with you before the truck is loaded.

Delivery or pickup at the yard

There are two ways to get this material from us. First, we can deliver it. Our trucks drop residential and commercial loads across Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Foxborough, Plainville, Medway and Bellingham. Tell us exactly where you want the pile, and the driver will place it as close to that spot as the ground safely allows.

Second, you can pick it up yourself. Bring a pickup truck, dump truck or trailer to 26 Industrial Rd in Wrentham during yard hours, and we will load you from the bays with the loader. As a rule of thumb, a full-size pickup carries about 2 to 3 yards safely. So check your payload rating before you come, and bring a tarp for the ride home.

Getting ready for a delivery

1. Pick the spot. Choose a flat, open place close to where you will spread the material. A driveway apron or the edge of the lawn works well.
2. Check the clearance. Our trucks need room overhead and a firm surface. So look up for wires and branches, and keep the drop zone clear of cars.
3. Protect the surface. If the pile goes on pavement, lay down a tarp or plywood first. As a result, cleanup takes minutes instead of an afternoon.
4. Tell us about access. Mention gates, soft ground, septic covers or tight turns when you order. Then the driver can plan the approach before arriving.
5. Plan the spread. Finally, line up a wheelbarrow, rake and a helper. Most people spread a few yards in a morning.

How to lay wood chips

1. Mark the path. Stake out the edges of the path or area first. Then cut or pull the grass inside the lines.
2. Add an edge. On paths, a simple edge of stone or timber helps. It keeps chips out of the lawn.
3. Consider fabric. For paths, landscape fabric underneath slows weeds. In beds, however, most people skip it.
4. Spread thick. Dump chips along the route and rake to 3 or 4 inches. Next, walk it to settle the layer.
5. Top up yearly. Finally, add an inch or so each year as the chips break down.

For play areas, depth matters more than anything else. So if you are covering ground under a swing set, ask us about how much to order for the size of the area. We will help you plan the yardage before the delivery.

Wood chips also make a practical base for a compost area or a woodpile. Because the chips drain, the ground stays firmer in spring mud season. In the same way, a thick layer along a fence line saves mowing and string-trimming every week. Over a few years the lower layer turns into rich organic matter, so the soil underneath actually improves while the path stays usable.

Bulk mulch versus bagged mulch

Bagged mulch is handy for a small touch-up. However, once a project reaches a few yards, bulk is simply easier. A single yard of bulk mulch equals about thirteen or fourteen of the common 2 cubic foot bags. So instead of hauling, slitting and stacking dozens of bags, you spread from one pile.

Bulk also means less plastic to throw away. In addition, the color and texture stay consistent across the whole bed, because everything comes from the same pile. For that reason, landscapers almost always buy mulch by the yard.

When to mulch in Massachusetts

Most people mulch in spring, after cleanup and before summer heat. That timing locks in spring moisture and blocks the first flush of weeds. Even so, fall is a smart second window. A fall layer insulates roots through freeze and thaw cycles, and as a result the beds look neat all winter.

Meanwhile, summer mulching is fine as long as you water the bed first. In other words, never trap dry soil under a fresh layer during a drought.

Storing leftover material

Leftover mulch keeps well in an open pile for a few weeks. Even so, cover it with a breathable tarp if rain is coming, and keep it away from the house. Also, spread leftovers into beds rather than leaving a pile on the lawn, because grass under a pile yellows within days. Finally, a small reserve pile is handy for patching spots the kids or the dog dig up later in the season.

Contractor and commercial orders

Landscapers, builders, excavation crews and property managers buy from the yard every week. For that reason, we keep the loader running early, so contractor trucks can load and get to the job before the day heats up. In addition, we can stage repeat deliveries to a site when a project runs over several days.

If you manage condos, office parks or HOA grounds, ask about planning spring and fall deliveries in advance. That way, the material lands when your crew is ready, instead of sitting in a parking lot. Likewise, excavation contractors can combine stone, sand and loam on one schedule, which keeps a site moving.

What to tell us when you order

A quick call goes faster when you have a few details ready. That way, we can quote the load and book the truck in one conversation.

• First, the material and how many yards you need
• Next, the delivery address and town
• Also, where the pile should go and any tight access
• Then, the best day and a backup day for delivery
• Finally, a phone number the driver can call on the way

Why buy wood chips from Ten Four Landscape Supply

Ten Four Landscape Supply is a local bulk-materials yard owned by Seth Dias. In other words, you are buying from the same people who load the truck, not from a call center. We sell every material by the yard, so you pay for what you need rather than for bags and plastic.

• Sold by the yard, loaded or delivered from 26 Industrial Rd, Wrentham
• Residential and commercial orders, from a single yard to full truckloads
• Straight answers on how much to order, so you do not buy twice
• Delivery across seven nearby towns, plus pickup during yard hours
• Other bulk materials on site, so one trip can cover a whole project

Also, because the yard handles mulch, stone, loam, compost and sand in one place, contractors can mix a load plan for a job in one call. Homeowners, meanwhile, get the same material the pros use, measured the same way.

Where we deliver wood chips

We deliver wood chips to homes, contractors and property managers in Wrentham, Norfolk, Franklin, Foxborough, Plainville, Medway and Bellingham, Massachusetts. Homes with wooded lots in Norfolk, Wrentham and Medway often use chips on trails and around sheds. Not sure your street is in range? Check the towns we serve, or just call and ask.

• Wrentham, MA
• Norfolk, MA
• Franklin, MA
• Foxborough, MA
• Plainville, MA
• Medway, MA
• Bellingham, MA

Pairs well with

Field stone makes a natural edge along a wood chip path. Meanwhile, hemlock mulch is a nice step up for the beds closest to the house.

New England Field StoneWeathered, irregular fieldstone for walls, borders and accents.Pure Hemlock MulchNatural reddish-brown hemlock bark. Fine texture, no dye.SandClean sand for leveling, bedding, backfill and mixing.

Wood chips FAQs

Have a question that is not listed here? For more background on soils, mulching and plant care in our region, the UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery & Urban Forestry Program publishes practical fact sheets. Otherwise, call the yard at (774) 372-1050 and we will help you choose.