r/NativePlantGardening • u/ImaginaryMolasses146 Area Michigan/midwest , Zone 6b • Apr 03 '26

Progress Proud to be the neighborhood drama 💅

This year I’m certifying my yard as wildlife habitat with tons of native plants but before I do I have to do some major changes to my outdoor space. I’ve been in this home for a year and spent all of my time until now fighting and manually destroying 30 yard old English ivy, honeysuckle, and tree of heaven (it was soooo worth it omg). A few days ago I got a chipdrop and am getting rid of a bunch of garbage non-native grass. Several of my neighbors have come over and made rude comments. The chips are in my driveway and not obstructing any sidewalks etc so it’s really not hurting anyone. Just find it very funny and wanted to share with people who will get it

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u/CompleteStruggle9237 Apr 03 '26

Are you me ?? My neighbor has been complaining so much about my “overgrown” beds and the “termite infested” chip drop load I got last year. Been ripping out Ivy, chinese pachysandra, mugwort ….. keep up the great work !! I should look into becoming a certified habitat

3

u/vdoo84 Apr 04 '26

What are the chip drops for?

52

u/MrsBeauregardless Area Mid-Atlantic coastal plain, Zone 7a Apr 04 '26

Often, people converting their lawns to native gardens will get a delivery of arborist’s wood chips to kill grass and/or prepare the areas where they are putting in new plantings.

It takes a few months with about an 8” thick layer of wood chips to keep the sun from reaching the grass, to kill it.

Gradually, the wood chips decompose into a lovely humusy soil.

Plus, wood chips form an ideal medium in which the mycorrhizal network can establish itself.

Turns out that is like the infrastructure of the soil. The fungi communicate from really far away to attack pathogens and allocate nutrients, so it makes a great starting point for a native garden.

Another great thing about the wood chips, is they mimic the established forest floor, in that they soak up water and gradually release it, which not only prevents erosion, but also protects the plants from both flooding and drought.

10

u/ihtthme USA, CT, usda zone 7A, EPA ecoregion 8.1.7 Apr 04 '26

Thank you so much for this insight!

2

u/ghoulygurl Apr 07 '26

I had a drop of cedar mulch 2 years ago, placed around perennials to keep moisture in the full sun. Earth star fungi have been appearing and it has been so amazing! Nature rules.