Free Wood Chips
Traverso Tree ServiceWood Chip FAQ
Why Wood Chips?
Covering the ground with wood chips is an excellent way to:
- Reduce mud
- Suppress weeds
- Dramatically reduce water evaporation
- Enhance soil moisture – chips absorb nighttime humidity and release it during the day
With our ongoing drought, wood chips are in high demand — and for good reason.
How Does It Work?
We maintain a Chip List of folks interested in free wood chips. When we’re in your area and have a full load, we’ll drop it off — absolutely free.
What Do You Get?
- One full load = 10–12 cubic yards (covers about 1,000 sq ft at 3–4 inches deep)
- No partial loads — but multiple full loads can be arranged
- Unsure how much you need? Use this Cubic Yard Calculator
Wood chips are a natural mix of wood and leaves, often from multiple tree species. You may request to exclude specific tree types, but this may increase your wait time.
✅ No weeds ✅ No filler — just 100% natural tree materials
How Long Will It Take?
Delivery depends on:
- Being in your area
- Having a full load
- Chips availability — many customers keep their own
Expected wait: 3–12+ weeks. No priority queue — it’s location-based.
Can I Get Chips from Other Sources?
Yes! Every tree service needs to get rid of their chips or they have to pay to dump them. You can call virtually any tree service in the area and ask to get on their “list.”
There are also several “universal” chips lists online. These sites allow for you to get on a list that is visible to multiple tree services in the area. Check out these resources:
These sites are not affiliated with Traverso Tree Service, but they can help you get chips faster by connecting with multiple providers.
What Info Do We Need to Add You to the List?
- Full address (with city)
- Exact drop location instructions (be specific- i.e. right side of the driveway or under the big tree in front)
- Ground surface type (dirt, mulch, gravel, etc.)
- Your phone number(s) for 20-min text alert. If we can’t reach you, we will not drop the chips. The crew will not wait or call back. You stay on our request list.
⚠️Important Things to Note
- With the exception of cul-de-sacs, we cannot drop chips on the street or sidewalk, per city ordinances.
- Please check for overhead wires or obstructions—our trucks need at least 15–25 feet of vertical clearance.
- Deliveries require a minimum width clearance of 9 feet.
- Chips can only be dropped in one designated location—once the dump bed is raised, the chips cannot be redirected or stopped.
💡 Want to learn more about using mulch effectively?
Check out these resources:
Looking for Woodchips?
Make sure you are in our service area!

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Traverso Tree Service – Call 925.930.7901 for Tree Care
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For trimming, removal, stump grinding or our more specialized tree related services