I'm looking to have about 30 yards of compost delivered to mix with my sandy soil. My total area is about 4,500 square feet, with around 1,000 square feet being unused mulch beds for future plants. I want to do this without causing too much disruption in my residential area, but I've noticed delivery is free for 30 yards, and I'm considering the logistics of having that much soil delivered. I'm thinking of putting the soil on the street on a tarp to control any potential runoff, using a couple of bagsters to help with cleanup. What size pile can I expect from a 30-yard delivery, and how should I approach moving and spreading that much compost?
2 Answers
A tandem dump truck typically carries about 12 yards, so you’re looking at quite a large pile if they deliver 30 yards. If it’s coming straight from a dump truck, expect the pile to be around 15-18 feet wide, 35 feet long, and about 5 feet high once it spreads out. That should give you a pretty good idea of how much space it'll take up! Good luck with your project!
Wow, 30 yards is a big undertaking! Just to give you a sense, that amount over 4,500 square feet works out to about 2.5 inches deep across your area. It’s definitely doable, but might be overwhelming in just two weekends if you're shoveling and using a wheelbarrow. I'd suggest considering smaller deliveries, like 10 yards at a time, to make it more manageable, especially since you're working with a timeline here. Also, if you plan to use a tarp, go for something around 20x30 feet to catch any extra.
Yeah, scaling down sounds smart! You don’t want to be overwhelmed!
That sounds massive! Just make sure you have a solid plan for moving all that before it arrives!