On average, the cost of mulch is around CAD 60 to 175 per cubic yard, including delivery and labour costs.
The answer to the question: “how much does mulch cost?” is not that simple. Many factors come into account, due to which the cost of mulch varies.
For instance, the two most important factors are the kind of mulch you choose and the quantity you require.
People usually have two reasons to add mulch to their lawns. One is to incorporate a decorative element into the lawn.
The other one is to retain moisture for crops to grow efficiently.
Whatever your reason is, continue reading to determine the cost of mulch for your landscaping project.
How Much Does Mulch Cost?
The cost of mulch for a cubic yard ranges from 25 to CAD 80, depending on the quantity and quality of the mulch ordered.
Mulch prices vary based on whether you purchase several bags at a time or in bulk.
The most popular kind of mulch for landscaping is coloured and comprised of bark or wood chips.
It also falls precisely in the middle of the price range. So, if you are on a budget, you can choose these types of mulches.
These have a stylish appearance that goes well with any landscaping design because they come in various colours to suit the tone of your overall home decor.
They will insulate your garden beds and hold onto moisture.
Nevertheless, the lightweight mulch fades over time and is more likely to wash away during torrential rain, increasing the total cost of mulch.
If you select bark or wood chip mulch, you will need to replace it annually or biannually.
Read More: Mulch Vs. Rock (2024 Comparison)
To reduce the cost of mulch, buy in bulk to get the best bargain.
The cost of mulch per yard decreases as you purchase more.
Choosing Between Inorganic and Organic Mulch
Inorganic mulch varieties such as crushed seashells, recycled rubber, and stone can easily cost twice as much as bark mulch materials, placing them at the higher end of the mulch cost scale.
The costlier choices have the benefit of having a longer lifespan. But bear in mind that garden beds where you intend to grow fruit, flowers, or plants might not be the best place for stone or rubber mulch.
The majority of expert mulch installations are priced based on the amount of mulch that needs to be laid per yard, plus delivery costs.
Remember that if you hire someone else to lay the mulch or take care of other lawn services concurrently, there will be an extra labour charge. You should budget between CAD 60 and CAD 175 for the delivery and installation of mulch per cubic yard.
Below is a chart stating the cost of different types of mulch.
| Type of Mulch | Cost Per Cubic Yard |
| Pine Bark | CAD 37.76 |
| Pine Needles | CAD 191.62 |
| Bark Mulch | CAD 97.16 |
| Wood Chips | CAD 105.26 |
| Cedar Mulch | CAD 139.00 |
| Rubber Mulch | CAD 294.21 |
How Much Does Mulch Cost: Top 3 Factors Affecting Cost of Mulch
In this section, we will discuss the cost of mulch by adding all the factors that impact the total cost.
1. The Price to Deliver Mulch in One Go
The delivery cost of mulch ranges from CAD 20.24 to 87.72 per yard, with an upfront charge of CAD 60.73 to 134.96.
Truckload deliveries begin at two cubic yards, and the typical delivery size for a single-axle truck is between 10 and 30 cubic yards.
Some mulch companies will bring the mulch for free if you live nearby.
Mulch can be supplied loose, in bags, or on pallets of bags. Usually, trucks will dump it onto gravel, pavers, or your driveway.
If not, place a tarp down, so the team working on your lawn knows where to unload it and prevent it from rolling onto the lawn.
2. Number of Mulch Bags
A 2-cubic-foot bag of mulch covers around 8 square feet, whereas a yard of mulch covers roughly 108 square feet at a depth of 3 inches.
As mentioned above, bulk mulch delivery begins at two cubic yards or roughly 13.5 bags.
You must first measure the space and determine the desired depth in inches before you can lay down.
A mulch layer prevents weed growth, but too much mulch will promote root growth into the layer and ultimately destroy the plants instead of the weeds.
3. Cost of Mulch Maintenance
Certain varieties of mulch require less frequent replacement since they are more long-lasting than others.
Bark and other organic mulches typically decay entirely in a year and need to be refilled.
However, because inorganic mulch takes years to totally dissolve, it doesn’t need to be renewed as frequently as biological mulch. On the other side, inorganic mulch is more expensive.
As the inorganic ones take years to deteriorate, they are deemed affordable in the long run.
Mulching labour costs range from CAD 67.5 to 137 per hour or 45.35 to 94.29 per cubic yard, on average.
Therefore, including supplies and labour, the cost per cubic yard of mulch should be between CAD 60.62 and 175.13 for maintenance.
Additional Elements Increasing the Cost of Mulch
To apply mulch on your lawn, you may require some additional items that are written below:
1. Adding Mulching Sheets
Mulching sheets, also referred to as weed mats or landscape fabric, are a kind of ground cover that is used with organic mulch.
These sheets can prolong the life of your mulch and aid with weed control.
Metal, cotton, and plastic are some of the materials used to make landscape cloth. The plastic alternative is the least expensive per square foot, usually costing between CAD 0.26 and 0.87.
Installing landscaping staples, cutting the fabric to size, and clipping any extra fabric are some of the tasks involved in installing landscape fabric yourself.
It may take many hours to complete the process. Hence, it is always better to hand over this tedious task to professionals.
2. Perform Weeding
Depending on the size of your project, weed management treatments normally cost between CAD 87.55 and 229 CAD.
It is imperative to eradicate all weeds from the area prior to mulching, including their root systems.
If not, weed growth will reduce the mulch’s effectiveness and increase your overall costs.
If you work with a professional landscaping company, this expense can be covered by the mulching charge.
3. Grading To Level the Grass
For a typical project, the average cost of land grading is between CAD 1077.64 and 5387.83.
You need to engage a business to grade your uneven terrain before mulching.
Otherwise, the mulch won’t be spread uniformly, which will affect how nice and useful it looks.
If you are thinking of levelling an uneven lawn by yourself, you can make the grass smoother by using a hand tiller, often known as a garden hoe.
4. Edging the Lawn
Edging defines the areas and gives them a well-kept appearance by drawing an eye-catching border between the grass and the bed.
Often referred to as curbing, an edging project normally costs between CAD 983.38 and 2317.09.
Cost of Mulching Without Hiring a Professional
If you have a limited space to cover, mulching is a rather easy landscaping project. A wheelbarrow, rake, shovel, garden trowel, and mulch are all you’ll need.
Larger mulching projects may need a lot of labour and time.
Hence, it is recommended to hire a professional landscaping business, particularly if you lack the necessary tools.
Depending on the type you select, the cost of mulch itself can change, but it typically ranges from CAD 26.93 to 80.81 per cubic foot.
If you’re performing the work yourself, you’ll need a few basic tools, which, if you don’t already have them, will cost you about CAD 154.91.
To make your front yard prettier, here are some great stone and mulching landscaping ideas for you.
How to Mulch on Your Own
If you are planning to use mulch on your own, here is the correct way of doing it.
1. Get Protective Gear
Before applying mulch to the garden, you should wear safety glasses or gloves.
Accidents don’t happen after giving a warning. Therefore, to avoid skin irritation or facial injuries, you need good protective gear.
As mulch is made of different materials, it may contain some substances that cause allergies. If you have experienced allergic reactions before, make sure you study the type of mulch you are applying first.
2. Handle the Bags Carefully
If you have a large number of mulch bags, don’t try to lift multiple at the same time.
Go easy on your back by not lifting super heavy mulch bags. You can find the right lifting techniques to prevent serious injuries and back pain. For example, to move or lift the bags, instead of your back, use your legs.
3. Avoid Using Excessive Mulch
A common mistake while applying mulch is using too much of it. We know that after paying a certain cost of mulch, you want it to deliver value.
But that doesn’t mean you need to empty the mulch bags by pilling them.
Excessive mulch develops volcano mulch that is extremely harmful to trees and kills them gradually. Besides that, it is too high and can result in fire hazards or disturb the utility lines.
For mulching around trees correctly, here is what you need to know.
FAQs
What Is the Weight of a Bag of Mulch?
A bag of straw mulch weighs approximately twenty pounds, whereas a bag of thoroughly dried cedar mulch weighs forty pounds. The weight may double if the mulch gets wet.
How Many Cubic Feet of Mulch Are in a Yard?
A yard of mulch contains 27 cubic feet. When mulch suppliers refer to a yard of mulch, they may quote the cost of mulch per cubic yard.
Do I Need to Remove the Old Mulch to Apply a New One?
Old mulch should be removed since it may contain fungi or bacteria that are detrimental to plants. If you cover it with fresh mulch, it may decay and become nutrient-starved.
Final Thoughts
The size of your project and how simple it is to reach the area you want to mulch will determine the total cost of mulch.
To get an idea, ask a professional about the price of mulch for two to three cubic yards and how long the project will take.
The cost of the mulch per yard should be rather reasonable if you’re spreading the mulch yourself and purchasing in large quantities.