Please see our play chip comparison for comprehensive specifications, benefits and uses for Hardwood Chips — as well as links to inspirational garden ideas and do-it-yourself guides. Chicken runs want our Chicken Hardwood Chips instead, screened down to 5mm.
Hardwood chips bring a warm, natural touch to any garden with their attractive golden colour and fresh woodland scent. These 10-30mm chips from mixed hardwoods create a soft, durable surface that’s comfortable underfoot.
Perfect for:
- garden pathways
- planting borders
- mulching beds and shrubs
- decorative ground cover
The chunky shape helps suppress weeds effectively while providing excellent drainage to keep areas clean and mud-free. Hardwood chips offer a low-maintenance, eco-friendly alternative to bark mulch – ideal for renovating your outdoor space.
Hardwood Chips
Price range: £137.00 through £337.00 inc. VAT
| Quantity | Builders Bag (approx. 700L), Bulk Bag (approx. 1000L), XL Bag (approx. 1200L), 5 x 70L Bags, 10 x 70L Bags, 15 x 70L Bags, 20 x 70L Bags, 30 x 70L Bags, 40 x 70L Bags |
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1 review for Hardwood Chips
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Specifications, Inspirational Ideas & DIY Guides
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Specifications, Why Professionals & Homeowners Choose, Applications, Inspirational Ideas, DIY Guides, Maintenance, Purchasing Tips, FAQs, Related Products
Overview
Over my 15 years installing decorative surfaces across hundreds of gardens in London, the South East and South West, I’ve always reached for hardwood chips when clients want that authentic woodland style and have a budget in mind. Sourced directly from trusted British timber processors using sustainable offcuts, our chippings deliver a warm, organic look that stone simply can’t replicate. Our hardwood wood chips have a particle size of 10-30mm, providing an ideal mixed grade - smaller fragments fill gaps and start to mulch while larger pieces add structure and longevity for paths and beds. Our versatile hardwood woodchip option shines whether you’re mulching borders or topping up natural walkways. Below I share the full specifications and past install results to help guide on a purchase for your unique space.
Specifications
Certifications and Technical Information
Why Professionals & Homeowners Choose Hardwood Chip
Hardwood chips stand out with their irregular shapes and earthy tones that intensify in rain, shifting from light golden-brown to deep chestnut. From dozens of past jobs, here are the standout results:
- Weed Suppression: The varied sizing blocks light effectively, stopping weeds naturally.
- Moisture Retention: Traps water in the soil during dry spells while draining freely in heavy rain.
- Soft Underfoot: Creates comfortable surfaces for everyday use; our chips proved perfect for a family walkway in Farnham, where barefoot kids played safely year-round.
- Slower Breakdown Durability: Hardwood chips hold their structure well, though on permanently damp ground it is rot-resistance rather than hardness that decides how long a chip lasts.
- Soil Improver: The lower layers gradually feed the earth, improving texture without any sudden nitrogen draw.
Here are some examples from previous installations:
Applications
Hardwood chips warm brown palette and texture create a relaxed woodland base that pairs beautifully with shade-loving perennials like Heuchera for bold leaf colour, Astilbe for fluffy plumes, Hosta for lush foliage and Japanese Anemones for late-summer blooms. They bring organic charm to cottage or wildlife gardens. They aren’t suited to heavy vehicle driveways.
- Mulch Beds & Borders - Our hardwood wood chips work best here, locking in moisture and suppressing weeds.
- Light Paths & Walkways - Form stable, comfortable routes that drain well even after downpours and last more than a couple of seasons before wanting a top-up.
- Tree & Shrubs - Spread the hardwood chippings to protect roots and keep grass at bay while slowly enriching the soil.
- Vegetable Gardens - Creates warm, weed-free beds that eventually boost soil health.
- Kids Play Areas - The soft texture breaks the fall of a tumble, but these are the garden grade. For certified fall protection you want our Hardwood Play Grade Chips.
Inspirational Ideas
They suit farm tracks and mud control far better than a front drive. Here is where I draw the line.
Ben Parrot
Every complaint I get about bark mulch, and what actually solves it.
Ben Parrot
A Proper Floor is No Paltry Matter
Ben Parrot
DIY Guides
The depth, base and edging that keep a chip path solid through a British winter.
Ben Parrot
Every retail type compared by someone who uses the stuff - plus the two buying checks to save you £.
Ben Parrot
Maintenance
How you handle weeds depends on the setup: on a decorative bed, lay it straight onto the soil before after removing all weeds and roots and then rake lightly every few months to redistribute. On a paving area, a heavy duty membrane goes over the compacted base instead. A gentle rake once or twice a year evens everything out after wind or foot traffic, and a light top-up every couple of seasons refreshes the surface while the older material quietly feeds your soil.
Purchasing Tips
Batches of hardwood wood chips can vary slightly in tone and mix depending on the timber processed at the time, so it’s best to be prepared for some natural variation. Try to get what you need in the one load. Measure your area in square metres and pop them into our bark and wood chip calculator.
If you would rather talk your hardwood chip order through with a person, ring Outdoor Aggregates on 0330 043 7585. The office is open 7am to 7pm, seven days a week.
FAQs
What are hardwood wood chips made from?
Hardwood wood chips are made from sustainable mixed hardwood timber off-cuts processed into a 10-30mm range, giving that authentic natural texture for garden paths and mulch without any additives.
What size do hardwood wood chips come in?
Hardwood chips come in one versatile nominal particle size of 10-30mm, which mixes finer pieces and larger chunks for excellent coverage whether you’re using them as hardwood wood chip mulch or pathway surfacing.
Do hardwood wood chips change colour when wet?
Hardwood chips do change colour when wet, shifting from dry golden-brown tones to a deeper, richer chestnut that adds real depth and warmth to your garden after rain.
Are hardwood chips suitable for garden paths?
Yes, hardwood chips are suitable for garden paths, creating a soft yet stable surface that drains freely and stays comfortable underfoot in everyday use.
How much hardwood chips do I need?
To work out how much hardwood chips you need, measure your area in square metres, choose a 5-7cm depth for most applications, then add 10% extra for settling - our bark and wood chip calculator makes the exact bulk bag quantities simple.
Are hardwood chippings safe for pets and children?
Hardwood chippings are safe for pets and children thanks to their soft, non-sharp edges and natural composition, making them a popular choice for play areas in family gardens.
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Becky Gwynne (verified owner) –
Excellent communication throughout
Delivered as agreed
Product very good quality