Forest district offers free wood chips

Forest Preserve District of DuPage County

The public is invited to pick up free wood chips from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, May 14, at the Native Plant Nursery at Blackwell Forest Preserve, 29W218 Mack Road, West Chicago.

Individuals may bring vehicles no larger than a pickup truck to take mulch. A district employee will be on hand with a tractor to help fill trailers or truck beds. People who want smaller amounts should bring their own containers.

The nursery entrance is on the south side of Mack Road, about a half-mile east of Route 59. For information on the free wood chip pickup, call (630) 876-5920 from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. weekdays.

"Organic mulch is a great, natural way to retain soil moisture and inhibit weeds," said Joe Cantore, president of the forest preserve district. "It also keeps plants cooler in the hot summer and provides a bit of welcome nutrition to your garden as it breaks down."

The district makes its own mulch from dead trees and tree and brush trimmings and uses it for trails and landscaping throughout the forest preserves. When it has more mulch than it needs for a season, it makes it available to the public.

"We're pleased to be able to provide free mulch for DuPage County residents to use in their yards and gardens," said Forest Preserve District Commissioner Al Murphy, District 6.