We all know how important it is to use mulch in our landscaping and gardens. As the University of Florida IFAS Extension explains, “Mulches are an increasingly important part of the Florida urban landscape. A mulched garden has better water and soil conservation. Mulches are also known to buffer soil temperature and prevent water loss from evaporation. Weed control either by inhibiting weed germination or suppressing weed growth is another benefit of mulches. These advantages and the increasing interest in mulching have resulted in a wide array of mulches available for the gardener and landscaper.”
It has also resulted in the appearance of bag mulch just about every. The grocery store, hardware and gardening centers, sell bagged mulch. If you stop to think about it, the cost of bag mulch can add up quickly. The average bag of mulch at the big box store cost $4.49, for a 2 cubic foot bag. For one yard of mulch you would need 13 and 1/2 bags of mulch (at 2 cubic feet per bag). Since they don’t sell half bags, you need 14 bags, which would cost 62.86 before taxes. If you purchase the mulch in bulk, it would only cost about half this much and if you had it delivered you wouldn’t have to lug around all those heavy bags!
The quality of the mulch is very important. When you purchase bulk mulch you can see exactly what you get. The mulch in the bag is often hidden by the logo and information on the bag. It could have gotten wet and started to mold or maybe not the exact color you were looking for. The pretty packaging can end up costing you in lower quality mulch
Buying in bulk is also better for the environment. It would take 140 bags just to cover 10 yards of mulch. That’s 140 bags you have to carry, heavy plastic to cut open, empty, and then having to dispose of all those bags.
At Reliable Peat we just sell landscaping supplies, we know where the product comes from, and can help decide which type of mulch is best for your project. Contact us today for more information.
