Totally agree.
Other practices I find silly for the average home owner.
-bagging leaves (plastic bags, paper bags)
-debris collections
-weed killers, moss killers, pesticides
-black bark, stained mulch
-trees planted too close to paved areas (roots eventually buckle the pavement, and either the tree dies, is removed, or the area is repaves and ruins the soil further)
I started using wood chips a few years ago when I heard about free chip drops. Everyone thought we would get termites and ants. It was difficult to convince people of the benefits, and dispel myths. After we got the chips, we got less pests and less weeds, no grass that needed mowing and watering, and better softer soil underneath. I think it feels softer to walk on than traditional barkdust, and less splinters.
Awesome that you put it to the test and found great results. Agree with the other practices you mentioned, thanks for reading!
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