When arborists cut down trees and chip them into wood, they need to pay to dispose of the mulch they generate. Some larger operations have deals with landfills to dump mulch cheaply, or they sell the wood chips at a discounted rate, but small arborists pay high fees for each job they take on.

We’re trying to change that.

Woodchuck is a community resource that connects gardeners and home owners to local arborists, giving them locally sourced organic mulch, and a free place for arborists to deposit wood chips.

Wait, so how does it work?

First, sign up to join our waitlist. That’s how we’ll be able to get in touch with you to arrange a delivery.

Each month we work with our local arborist network to assign drop-offs and schedule deliveries for members on our waitlist.

We will reach out to you to confirm your delivery and request a $1 deposit. Upon delivery, you’ll be charged for the full amount of the load.

At the moment we are only serving Natick Massachusetts. We are piloting this now, and hope to expand to other towns in the area (and states, too!). If you live outside Natick and want Woodchuck to operate in your town, fill out the form anyway! Based on responses we get, we’ll determine where we expand to next.

What kind of mulch I expect to get?

This isn’t your store-bought mulch, that’s for sure.

When arborists cut down tress they run them through a chipper which spits out wood chips on the other end. So technically, you’re getting wood chips, not mulch. That said, wood chips look like mulch and can be used for the same purposes as mulch.

Often, the mulch arborists deliver will include plant matter, like leaves or pine needles. Due to the wear and tear on these machines, it won’t be exactly uniform as well.

But it’s so much better for your garden.

The lack of dyes means no chemicals are leached into your soil. The extra plant matter breaks down quickly, providing nutrients for your garden. Because these chips were freshly cut, they will remove nitrogen from your soil once they begin breaking down, however after a few weeks they will add nitrogen and more nutrients to your soil, resulting in a healthy lawn and garden.

If you’re looking for perfectly uniform and brightly dyed mulch, we recommend shopping at your local big box store.

If you want natural, organic, sustainable wood chips for your beds or garden, Woodchuck is your best source.

When can I expect my delivery?

We’ll do our best to coordinate a delivery as close to your desired delivery date. If you tell us you want a delivery ASAP, we’ll try to make it happen. If you’d rather get your mulch on the last Saturday of the month, we’ll see what we can do.

Arborists often schedule jobs out a month in advance, so we do our best to coordinate with them but there’s always a risk of last-minute changes in their schedule. We’ll do our best to keep you updated every step of the way until your order is delivered.

As a rule of thumb, expect anywhere from 1-2 weeks after making a deposit (though you very well could receive a delivery the next day too).

What do I need to do?

We will contact you to confirm your delivery date and time. To make your delivery as smooth as possible, please do the following to prepare:

• Your drop site must be accessible to the crew. This means making sure it is no less than 8′ wide, and 15′ long, with room for the truck to maneuver. The chips will spill out on all sides, so make sure to barricade or move any delicate plants, pots, yard art, garden gnomes, etc., that might get buried.
• Make sure there aren’t cars parked in the drop site during the day.
• Check for low overhead lines and tree branches that the drop box would hit as it’s being raised. They can go up pretty high, about 20′.
• Leave a marker on the place where you want the chips dropped. This can be a tarp, a cone.
• It helps to include a secondary drop site when we reach out to confirm a delivery. (e.g. ‘If you can’t drop them in the driveway, drop them on the side of the road in front of the house.’)

Legal stuff

Accidents happen. In the event of an accident, the following describes who is responsible:

• Arborist trucks are heavy. If your driveway is thin enough, it could crack from the weight of a large truck. Any damage to your driveway or yard as a result of an arborist’s truck is the responsibility of the property owner, not the arborist or Woodchuck.
• It is the responsibility of the arborist to know if they can safely maneuver and drop a load in the specified location. Any damage to property, with the exception of the driveway, as a result of an arborist’s truck, or the chips they drop, is the responsibility of the arborist.
• Woodchuck is not liable for any damage to persons or property related to the delivery of wood chips If an incident involving personal injury or property damage occurs, Woodchuck will help to facilitate a resolution by putting each party in contact with each other. It is up to the parties involved to resolve the issue independently of Woodchuck. Woodchuck is not liable for fees, fines or penalties associated with any delivery of a load of wood chips.