Our tree service recently cut down some large, dead limbs on our Littleton farm and left a huge pile of chipped wood per our request. It saved both of us a significant amount of money.
Having used bagged mulch when we owned smaller properties, I know that it can be a hassle and, even worse, yields a large number of plastic bags. Able to shovel fresh mulch into a wheelbarrow is a luxury and we now have more than we'll likely use this year.
Of course, the recycling of home-grown wood and its use to retain soil moisture and release nutrients in this semi-arid climate is rewarding, not to mention the exercise that comes with the task. In the end, we are simply speeding up nature's cycle of death and renewal.
