I got a quote from a landscaper last week for some black triple ground mulch, but it was way more than I expected—over $3,000! So, I decided to handle this myself, but I'm clueless about how much mulch I really need. The quote listed 7 yards at $36 each, totaling $252. My husband thinks I need a truckload, but I'm not so sure. Can anyone help me figure out exactly how much mulch I'd need?
2 Answers
To start, you'll want to know the size of the area you're mulching. A typical truck bed can hold about half a yard, maybe a bit more. You mentioned your house is around 2000 sqft, so you might need more than you think—especially if you're covering garden areas around your home. Just as a heads up, the black mulch you're looking at tends to fade and break down pretty quickly, so keep that in mind. Also, check out alternatives like chipdrop for free mulch if you haven't already!
Honestly, I've been surprised to find that buying bagged mulch from places like Lowes or Home Depot can actually be cheaper than buying bulk from landscaping companies. For example, a 2 cubic ft bag covers around 4'x3' area if you lay it a bit thick. Just do the math beforehand to avoid surprises! And remember, 1 yard of mulch generally covers about 320 sq ft at 1 inch thick, so aim for that to get a good coverage without overdoing it.
Wow, I had no idea bagged mulch could save me money! I’m planning a trip to Lowes now to get enough bags for my entire garden. Thanks for the tip!
Thanks for the info! I’ll definitely check out chipdrop and see how much I can get. Great to know about the fading too!