Bulk mulch question

One difference is the fact that they are bringing it to your house. However, I see your point!

Yep, you still have to haul it around in a wheelbarrow to distribute, but they did save some incremental work.

You remember how much they charge to get it yourself? I know my local nursery charges by the scoop which is a 1/2 yard, but can't remember how much.

I buy soil in bulk but mulch I can usually find for about 2.50 a bag.

Delivery accounts for the difference in price. If you have a truck, just take your truck to the material yard and have them load a yard in your truck at a time. Half ton can handle a yard. Unless you don't like to use your truck, as a truck. If you're afraid of messing up the pretty bed, you can put down a tarp.

For unloading, I put the wheel barrow under the tailgate, and use a concrete rake to pull the material down into the wheel barrow. It goes super fast this way and way easier than shoveling it out.

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I always go pick it up, have them dump it in the bed of my truck. Delivery on any landscape material will eat you up.

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I do the same.

I've done both. I thought the bulk mulch was gonna save me $ but it didn't. I don't remember the exact price but when Home Depot has the 5 bags for $10 you can't beat it. Also, trying to maneuver your fully loaded wheelbarrow in tight spots or far back in the garden can be difficult. I find throwing the bags where you want it to be a far better option. Additionally, if it rains you don't need to tarp the bagged mulch like you would a mountain of mulch in your driveway. Staring at that pile of mulch is also very daunting knowing you can only move it one shovel at a time.

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The other mulch topic got me thinking...do any of you buy bulk mulch delivered to your house? What's it cost you?

2 years ago I got 12 yards delivered. It was $240/6 yard load, which came out to $480 total.

If I went to HD during the mulch sale and got 162 bags of mulch for $2/bag, it would cost me $324. I thought buying in bulk was supposed to be cheaper?

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The stuff at home depot for $2/bag is not 2cu ft anymore, it is 1.5cu ft. So, you need 216 bags @ $2/ea = $432

The bagged mulch that is 2cu ft will run you 3.33/bag @ 162 bags = $539.46

Mulch is $30/yard a mile from my house. Just went there yesterday. Bags would have to be $1/foot2 to match that. A full size truck is going to fit 2 yards whether it is bagged or not.
Landscape place is also like 5 minutes to get in and out of.
Also bulk is measured while scooped and not all fluffy like plus they always load a little extra in the scoops.

Bulk mulch is usually better quality than the bagged products at the box stores. Most bulk producers differentiate their mulch from the mass produced bags by particle size. Less "overs" 2" plus and more "fines" less than 1/4". Less overs and more smaller pieces equals more surface area and that means more color, which means less effected by UV degradation and wash off from rain.