Key takeaways
- Zone 0 (0 to 5 feet): no wood mulch or other combustible mulch.
- Zone 1 (5 to 30 feet): mulch can be used, but not in a continuous, widespread manner.
- Surround mulch patches with decomposed granite or irrigated lawn.
- Call 775.232.8243 for chip availability and pricing.
Tree work and brush clearing produce a lot of chips. Availability and pricing of Battle Born Tree Service's wood chips are by phone, so we make no promise about free chips in this guide.
The rules in each zone
| Zone | Chips and mulch |
|---|---|
| Zone 0, 0 to 5 feet | Remove wood mulch and other combustible mulch. Use gravel, rock or pavers. |
| Zone 1, 5 to 30 feet | Mulch can be used, but not in a continuous, widespread manner; surround it with noncombustible options such as decomposed granite or irrigated lawn. |
| Zone 2, 30 to 100 feet | Keep fuel reduced and separated; the guide does not set a mulch rule here, and says needles on the ground should not exceed 3 inches in depth. |
Where do wood chips make sense?
Chips can cover bare ground in beds and paths away from the structure. Use them in patches with noncombustible borders. Keep them away from the house and from fences and decks that touch the structure. Mulch deep enough to suppress weeds is also deep enough to burn, so when in doubt use less or use rock.
Chips from fuel reduction work
When we masticate brush or chip limbs for defensible space, the chips come from the same plants you are trying to reduce. They are fine to leave on open ground away from the house in a thin layer. A heavy layer leaves a lot of fuel in one place, so ask about spreading, hauling or leaving them. See mastication vs brush mowing vs hand clearing.
What not to do
- Do not pile chips against the house, a fence or a deck.
- Do not leave a big heap on the lot through fire season.
- Do not use chips instead of removing dead vegetation.
- Do not burn chip piles. Outside incorporated cities, burning brush and debris generally needs a written permit under NRS 472.520.
Can wood chips keep weeds down?
Wood chips are sometimes used to hold down weeds, and the Living With Fire guide notes that removing all vegetation can increase invasive weeds such as cheatgrass. The balance it points toward is selective: keep some living, irrigated plants in islands, mulch lightly in patches in Zone 1, and keep Zone 0 clear. Rock does the weed job in Zone 0 without the fuel.
Questions to ask when you call
Ask what type of chips are available, how much, whether delivery is offered, and what the terms are. We do not publish those details online, so the office will give you the current answers. If you want chips from a job we are doing for you, tell the estimator ahead of time so the plan covers where they go.
Getting chips from us
We sell firewood and wood chips from our Carson City yard. Availability changes, so call the office at 775.232.8243 for what is on hand and for pricing. When we do your tree work, tell the estimator whether you want the chips left or hauled.
Sources
- University of Nevada, Reno Extension: Living With Fire (SP-23-07) (read October 17, 2026)
- Nevada Legislature: NRS Chapter 472 (NRS 472.520, burning permits) (read October 17, 2026)