Wood chips in a permaculture orchard?

I have a small orchard, most trees are eight years old, and I have a ready supply of wood chips. Would you recommend spreading chips around the trees to subdue the grass and help nourish the soil?

What kind of wood chips?

The chips I chip myself are all from conifers. My large stockpile comes from a local tree service and are primarily hardwoods.

Curt Regentin wrote:I have a small orchard, most trees are eight years old, and I have a ready supply of wood chips. Would you recommend spreading chips around the trees to subdue the grass and help nourish the soil?

Curt wood chips are THE best mulch material for trees, especially fruit trees. By definition use branches that are 2'' or less. Not trunk wood. Hardwood is best. You have conifer from your trees and hardwood chips from the town. I would mix 50-50 so as not to use just conifer chips.
Yes spread around the fruit trees but put a layer of cardboard first to get better grass suppression. No chips right along the trees trunk. Good one your doing.

is the idea that woodchips will help with fungal growth, which is what most trees prefer [over bacterial growth]?

yes it is Kelly.