Should i wood chip my garden?

Question

I have a small garden which has been ruined with the hot weather then all the bad rain.My dog then decided to dig holes.I have young children and need a quick fix to sort my garden so they can play in it in the summer.Would anyone recommend that i put wood chips where the lawn was.I dont want to spend too much on the property as it is rented accommodation.

Answer 1

i think your dog would also dig holes in woodchip

and its not very safe for kids to play on - painful if they fell over and they might get splinters.

i don't even think its that cheap - I put a very small amount in my garden and it was quite costly. If its just a small garden, turf wouldnt cost you too much and would be alot nicer for your kids to play on. have a look round B & Q, see what else there is

Answer 2

A lot of play yards in Oregon are done in wood chips, but not usually in the garden. Wood chips are very acidic and aren't good for plants unless they like acid soil - like hydrangias and rhododendruns. Dogs don't usually like to dig in them, and if you put some wire fencing under the chips that would let the kids play but keep the dog from digging the large holes.

Answer 3

I've mulched my flower beds before with fine results..keeps the moisture in & weeds out. I don't think the wood chips would be good if they are extremely close to the house, because of bugs and especially termites, but if you're renting and the kids need a place to play, I would say go for it!! And it should be a fairly cheap fix:)
Good Luck!!

Answer 4

Throw some grass seed on it. Not expensive and fast growing if you keep it watered.