Mulching with thick wood (usually used as fire wood)

Hi,

I planted fruit trees 2 weeks ago in grassland, and now i would like to mulch them,
to protect the earth from drying out completly during the hot months that are about to come (mediterrean climate).
So for me it is more about shading the area around the drip line of the trees and protecting it from hot summer
winds. Adding OM to the earth fast is not the priority.

In my area there is a saw mill which sells wood, but not wood chips.

The smallest wood they have is around one inch in diameter and around a foot long.
Compared to wood chips  those will probably decompose munch slower,
however i am wondering whether i would create a fire hazard?

I imagine the wood to become bone dry in the sun.
Should i rather get/borrow a wood chipper?

If the wood is only 1" thick that might work.  I don't know about a fire hazard.

I feel there might be some other items that you might use such as plants or rocks for what you described.

If Sweet alyssum, Lobularia maritima is available this plant makes a great ground cover that offers shade.  I feel this low-growing plant is thick enough to hold in the moisture.  It also is very sweet smelling.

Rocks can also help hold in moisture.

If they sell log rounds or rough cut lumber, something with a large flat sides, might work better.
I've layed down  pallet board's to suppress weeds.
It's also great habitat for snakes and lizards.

I think if the wood pieces are touching the ground and packed together relatively well (much more wood than air in the pile), they should rot down and not be a fire hazard.  In Montana (dry mountains) they make slash piles which are composed of branches and smaller trees.  Two years ago we moved a pile that was 10' across and 3' high.  Underneath it was the only healthy/moist/living soil in the area.