Altadena Fire Victims Free wood chips

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Wood chips and mulch can be very beneficial after a fire for dust control and property restoration. Here’s how they help and what to consider:

Dust & Erosion Control
- Helps prevent ash and soil from blowing around.
- Stabilizes the soil, reducing erosion, especially on slopes.
Moisture Retention
- Mulch keeps the soil from drying out, helping surviving plants recover and supporting new growth.
Soil Health & Regeneration
- Chipped trees and organic mulch decompose, adding nutrients back into the soil.
- Helps restore microbial life in the soil, which may have been damaged by intense heat.
Weed Suppression
- A layer of mulch can help prevent invasive plants from taking over while native plants recover.

Using Chipped Trees from the Property

Best Choices for Mulch
- Hardwoods (oak, maple, etc.) – Long-lasting mulch, good for soil enrichment.
- Softwoods (pine, fir, cedar, etc.) – Breaks down faster, slightly acidic, good for certain plant types.
- Partially Burned Trees – If the interior wood is sound, they can be chipped and used but avoid fully charred material.
Avoid Using:
- Toxic or diseased wood (some trees, like black walnut, release chemicals harmful to other plants).
- Highly resinous trees in high amounts (too much pine or cedar can be acidic and slow breakdown).

Apply 2–4 inches of mulch to areas needing dust suppression and soil recovery.
Keep mulch away from tree trunks and plant stems to prevent rot.
Consider mixing in compost or nitrogen-rich materials to balance decomposition.