National Average Improvement and Repair Cost
Pro
DIY
Hours:
3.9
6
Cost:
$ 248
$ 150
Would you do this project? According to our survey, 70% of respondents preferred DIY compared to hiring a pro.
The average price to Install Mulch noted above is cost data to compare a contractor’s estimate with doing it yourself.
How much is mulch? Create a clean look for a garden bed by laying mulch, a good DIY job saving you 40 percent; a landscape service will charge $248.
A spread of mulch always looks good in a garden bed because it creates a uniform background for the soil, which lets the flowering plants stand out. And below the surface, a layer of mulch reduces evaporation, slows the growth of weeds, and protects the roots of plants in temperature extremes like no other material can.
Be careful not to apply mulch close to the foundation of the house because it may invite termites. When mulch is an organic material like wood chips or bark, it improves the quality of soil as it decomposes. If mulch has a downside, we don’t know what it is, and there’s no job easier than adding it to garden beds.
Before buying mulching material, call your local town office to see if they have a free mulch program. Sometimes the grounds and maintenance department of a town or county creates mulch from trees that have been cut down and make it available to the public. Also, determine how much mulch you need for your project.
Here’s how much it costs. To lay a 4-inch-deep spread of bark mulch in a 300-square-foot area, a landscape or garden service will charge $248, which includes the material and labor. You can buy the mulch for $150 and do it yourself to pocket a 40 percent savings. You’ll find organic mulch sold shredded or as chunks or nuggets, depending on where you live. You’ll need a wheelbarrow, hand weeder, shovel, and rake to do the job.
If you’re buying several bags of the material and your vehicle isn’t large enough to transport the material, have it delivered. It’s heavy so get help moving it to where it’s needed. Before spreading mulch on a garden bed, weed the soil, make sure that it’s level and give it a good soaking of water.
From Food Forward.org here’s more information about mulch What, Why, and How.
That sums it up. Knowing the average cost to install mulch lets you compare doing it yourself with what you can expect to pay a contractor.
