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Where Can I Dump Mulch for Free? (7 Smart Options)

Where Can I Dump Mulch for Free? (7 Smart Options)

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Every year, when the snow begins to melt, and the little plants start to sprout, gardeners know it’s time to mulch. Since mulch is mainly composed of scraps from your kitchen or garden, many people prefer to make their own instead of buying it.

But what happens when you end up with too much mulch? If you decide to dump it, you’ll be charged an organic or green waste fee. So where can you dump mulch for free?

Luckily, there are plenty of options to get rid of the extra mulch without paying a dime. They’re all fairly easy, and you’ll dump the extra mulch in no time.

How to Dump Extra Mulch for Free

We’ve gathered a list of the easiest ways to take the extra mulch off your hands. Some of these options may seem obvious, but others are usually overlooked. So go through the list and pick the one that best suits you.

1 – Take Another Look at Your Garden

Before you decide to throw away the extra mulch, take another look at your garden. Are all your trees and flowers covered? Maybe your mailbox spot could use a scoop of mulch to give it a fresh face-lift.

Or if you have raised-bed gardens in your backyard, you could use the extra mulch to define the beds and clear out a path to walk through and reach every corner of your yard — not to mention how aesthetically pleasing it would look.

Moreover, if you have some unwanted plants growing in your yard, such as ivy or weeds, you could bury them under a nice layer of mulch to get rid of them and prevent them from spreading.

2 – Donate It

The best way to dispose of extra mulch is by donating it to your community. You could check with your local school, hospital, retirement home, or any other place with trees and gardens. Chances are they’re always in need of extra mulch to cover their landscape.

Give them a call and ask to speak with their groundskeeper or maintenance to offer them free bags of mulch. They’re sure to appreciate your kind offer.

3 – Spread It Out

Take a closer look at the people around you. You’ll probably know a neighbor, a friend, or even a family member that doesn’t invest their time and effort into their garden as you do — especially your elderly neighbors or relatives. So why not give them your extra mulch?

Call them and ask if they need any homemade organic mulch and if you could send them some. They’ll greatly appreciate the kind gesture. After all, who hates having a nice green lawn with healthy trees and flowers?

4 – Landscapers

Do you know a landscaper around your area? Well, why not give them your extra mulch? Landscapers come across tens, maybe even hundreds, of landscapes. Some of which have big trees that require a lot of mulch to cover. So they ALWAYS news mulch.

If you know a landscaper, reach out to them and offer to give them your extra mulch. They’ll take it in a heartbeat.

5 – Landscape Suppliers

Another idea to consider is giving it to your local landscape suppliers. They’re always in contact with people who need mulch, especially during spring, and they won’t mind the extra stock.

That way, you’ll get the extra mulch off your hands for free, and they could sell it and make a profit. It’s a win-win! So call your local landscape supplier and ask whether they would take your extra mulch.

6 – Post It Online for Free

If all else fails, or if you don’t have anyone to give it to, there’s always someone on the internet. Post the extra amount you have online and mention that you’re giving it away for free.

You could share it on a website like eBay or Facebook Market or simply, post it to your friends and followers on social media.

Alternatively, you could find someone asking for free mulch for their garden on a gardening group or website. Either way, you’ll definitely find someone on the internet who needs it and would be happy to take it off your hands immediately.

7 – Save It for Next Year

Of course, you could always save the extras for next year. Although organic mulch could last up to 4 years, you may need to replace some of it every 1 to 2 years. So it’s never a bad idea to have some mulch stock.

However, if you plan on making some more for next year, then it’s best to give your extras to someone who could use them right now instead of stashing them away.

How To Store Extra Mulch

If you decide to store your extra mulch for next year, but you’re unsure how to do it, here are a few tips to help preserve your mulch from rotting.

  • Gather all of the extra mulch in bags, tie the bags really well, and poke some holes to allow air circulation.
  • It’s best to store your extra mulch outdoors over the winter, but it must stay in a dry place. So I recommend storing them in your garage or garden shed.
  • Lay a tarp on the ground to prevent any moisture — such as rain or snow — from reaching your mulch bags. Otherwise, they would start growing mold.
  • For extra protection against moisture, lay a tarp over your mulch stash in case any rain or snow leaks into your shed.

The golden rule to preserve your mulch indefinitely is to keep it absolutely dry and away from any kind of moisture. So always keep that in mind when you try storing it or next year.

Final Thoughts

Instead of paying money to get rid of the unwanted mulch in your yard, there are plenty of ways to repurpose it for free. I hope you found an option that suits you from the list above, and whatever you do, don’t let it go to waste. There’s a garden out there that needs your mulch.

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