Fresh wood chip mulch or processed/aged mulch?

Hey Permies,

So I have a tree cutting company that is offering me either freshly cut wood chips from oak branches, twigs, leaves pruned that day OR processed mulch from their mulch yard that they say is made from the same thing but just screened so that large pieces are screened out and it is aged (and they say that helps protect against termites).

I do live in a termite infested area, New Orleans. So idk. Which type of mulch is preferable? I'm just going to be spreading it over most of my lawn, front and back yard, and to build up some lump beds that I already have going.

Thoughts?

personally I would compost either before spreading it out. the heat produced in true composting would wipe out any termites. my previous house had termites more than once so I know a little bit about them.

Ryan,

My thoughts would be to get the bulk chips and decompose them yourself by using Wine Cap (or blue oyster) mushrooms.  It does involve a little work, but the Wine Caps will make the most magnificent, fertile bedding you can imagine.  At present, ALL of my gardens use a roughly 12" thick layer of wood chips that are inoculated and breaking down thanks to Wine Caps.  I now no longer add any new soil amendments.  This year I grew incredibly green, rich, vibrant tomato plants (with beautiful red tomatoes) simply by direct sowing into the Wine Cap mulch.  It really is amazing just how fertile the compost is after just one year.

If you are interested I can help walk you through more details.

Just my two cents,

Eric