Shredded Plant Material
Trees and limbs that come in contact with electric lines are a leading cause of power outages-- especially during storms. Dominion prunes and removes trees on a scheduled cycle as part of our rights-of-way maintenance. A by-product is shredded plant material that can be used by consumers as a mulch. The benefits of mulching include:
- Less weeding and watering,
- Increased growth rate,
- Increased resistance to disease and insects,
- Added protection for soil and roots,
- Extra nutrients for soil as mulch decomposes, and
- Better aeration due to reduced soil compaction over roots and increased earthworm population.
This material can be obtained from Dominion in certain areas within Virginia.
Mulch Request
Dominion offers the material on a first-come, first-served basis in areas where we are currently working. Shredded plant material:
- is free of charge,
- comes with no warranty or liability on Dominion's part for recipient's use, and
- is only distributed when available in full loads (3 to 5 standard pickup loads, or 8 – 10 cubic yards in size) delivered to your property.
Mulch FAQs
- What's in the mulch?
Shredded plant material is a mixture of shredded bark, wood chips, twigs and leaves from tree-trimming operations. This material may come from many tree species, is irregular in shape and color, and may also contain rakings.
- What else should I know?
- The mulch is not typically as attractive as other types of commercial mulch, but can serve well if fine texture is less important to you.
- It is fresh, or "green," and may be too acidic to be placed around some plants without damaging them. Consequently, the material should be allowed to age (i.e., composted) before being placed in an ornamental flowerbed or used as a mulch around trees or in other gardens. It is best used as compost for amending garden soils.
- As with any commercial product, shredded plant material should be used in a manner that protects the user and the environment. Therefore, this material should only be used for mulch, landscaping, animal bedding and erosion control.
