Buying Mulch in Bulk: 7 Tips for Buying Landscape Materials

Buy In Bulk or Buy By the Bag

If you are reading this article you are likely in the process of planning a landscape project. As you weigh your options regarding where to buy mulch landscape materials, another equally important question that you must answer is: “How much mulch do I need?” If you have a small project that you can complete with just a few bags of mulch then the big box home improvement store is the easy winner. But, if you are doing a larger project that will require a substantial amount of landscape material, it may be worth your while to explore the option of buying in bulk (ex. by the load or scoop) from the landscape supply vs buying by the bag from the home improvement store.

The Advantage

One of the biggest advantages to buying pine bark mulch in bulk over buying it by the bag from the big box home improvement stores, is the major cost savings that you get when you buy in bulk. It will cost you exponentially less money by volume to buy the pine bark mulch by the pickup truck load vs buying it in 20lb bags.

 

Mulch vs Pinestraw

Pine Bark Mulch unlike pine straw gets substantially cheaper in price when you buy larger quantities. Pine Straw on the other hand is typically only incrementally lower in price at the landscape supply than at the big box home improvement store.

 

Bulk Mulch Delivery.

When buying pine bark mulch in bulk, you have to plan how you will transport it. Most landscape suppliers do offer delivery. However, in order to make the delivery fee worth your while you need to be purchasing quite a bit. Basically, you need to be buying enough for your entire yard to make it cost effective. (unless, you  live close to the landscape supply and can get a deal)

Mulch Delivery Alternative.

If you need less than a dump truck load, but more than 10-15 bags from the big box store, a pickup truck load may be the answer. Once you’ve purchased 10-15 bags from the big box retailer, you are spending in the range of what it will cost you to buy a pickup truck load from the landscape supply!

 

The Flip Side

Now before you get all excited, there is a flip side to this coin. When you have them drop a load into the bed of your pickup, you automatically just signed up for a job. Unless, you have a dumping bed on your pickup, or the pickup you borrow, you will have to rake and shovel all the mulch off the back on the truck either into a wheelbarrow or into buckets so you can move it to the area where you will install it.

 

Final Tip

And you probably want to steer clear of borrowing the pickup that belongs to your buddy who never puts anything in the bed of his pickup.(you know who I’m talking about.) The mulch is kept outside on the ground in large piles, which means that it is exposed to rain and moisture. There is a good chance the mulch is going to be wet or at least moist once you dig below the surface. Don’t ruin your friendship by getting the bed of the pickup muddy and dirty. Only real work pickup trucks need apply!

Have fun out there and stay hydrated.