|
| Merry Christmas. Quick question - has anyone here dealt with getting LARGE amounts (more than 100 cubic yards total) of bulk mulch, topsoil, etc delivered? One of my possible designs I am working on would require about 110 cubic yards of pine bark fines or similar bark-based mulch, and possibly some "topsoil" as fill material as well in a smaller, but still large quantity. I'm prepared to spend the cash, it's the logistics I wonder about. Several companies in my area said they "probably" could find a way to do it, but I never got details yet since it's winter. However, even a dump truck only holds ~6 cu yds or so. How would someone get such a large amount, and, how do I get it dropped in the spot ion my yard where I want it, without severe compaction due to a truck with many tons of stuff on it driving on my soil?? |
Follow-Up Postings:
|
| There are landscape contractors around here that have trucks of 2, 5, 10, and even 20 cubic yards. Delivery of that much material would require several trips and having the trucks traverse your yard is a must. The alternative is to have the material dumped in your drive and you haul it from there. |
|
| Good point. Since my lot is over 500' deep, I have neither the energy nor the solid back these days to do that. However, I've seen situations where they lie down plywood for the vehicles to drive on to "spread" the weight, somewhat like snowshoes do when you walk in the snow, that lessens the effect of compaction. |
|
| The loads that trucks/trailers around here deliver are usually advertised as 10-25+ yards so it would take a few trips. With that much material you might want to consider renting a skid-steer loader or small excavator or hiring some help. |
|
| Around here, some companies have equipment that "blow it in" via a long tube/chute. I suspect that system may have distance limitations. And, as you might also suspect, it has a hefty price. I suggest you use the phone to ask what nearby companies can do for you. I need to ask -- Why is it you may need 500 yards of the stuff? Are you filling in a valley? If so, perhaps there's a Plan B that might work. |
|
| Not 500 yds, just 110. Unless you were trying to exaggerate. :) I am planting over about a quarter acre's worth of a 3 acre yard. I need organic matter, as my soil has less than 2% OM according to a soil test I had done. At 3 inches deep, 12,000 square feet, that's 110 cu yds, more or less unless I did the math wrong. Pine bark fines are just one thing I've considered for OM. If I bought any topsoil it would be a lot less than this amount. I don't have this stuff on hand so I'd have to buy it. |
|
- Posted by strobiculate none (My Page) on Wed, Dec 26, 12 at 15:32
| I routinely order bark mulch from a company that delivers in approx. 80 yd loads with a trailer that has a walking floor. I often tell people I'll give them a price break if they take it 80 yards, but there is one caveat...you need to be able to have a full length semi get there. And I'll guarantee there is someone around you that does this. I used to live in BFE Noth Dakota and there was a hauling company that had a full length walking floor. Topsoil is heavier, 80 yards of topsoil would far exceed legal highway weight limits, so you tend to see 20 or 30 yd trailer, or more properly, a tonnage, like 20 ton, since a 40K lb load plus vehicle weight is about legal load limit. Once you get it there, that's when you rent a front end loader. |
|
| It is a lot simpler than that. You only deliver it when the ground is well frozen. Easier said than done these days, I think we had the last 1 ft freeze in 2008-2009. |
|
| OP wrote: "Not 500 yds, just 110." Sorry for the oops. (Perhaps it's due to enjoying too many holiday goodies.) But 110 is still a lot! |
|
| Four times last summer I had free shredded bark mulch delivered. I expect there are various size dump trucks but the one that delivered to me held 15 cu.yds. Fortunately I know someone with a business who has a dump truck so got a deal on the hauling. Otherwise costs would have been prohibitive. Because I was having other work done by a skid-steer I had the mulch leveled for my labyrinth at the same time which saved on drop charges. That was after we had hauled many loads of mulch to the garden. Fortunately mulch is lighter and easier to haul than gravel or rocks but I didn't want the skid steer anywhere near my garden as previously another one had left tracks in my lawn. I recommend contacting businesses that haul gravel or other materials to see what their rates are. I believe costs are usually based on material as well as mileage but if also based on time it might save money if you contract all the hauling at the same time. |
|
| The people that haul gravel or any other bulk material use the same types of trucks although some of the larger capacity trailers are now "live bottom", or self unloading types. In theory laying plywood down is supposed to spread the weight and help prevent compaction. When I had 5 very large Poplar trees removed the cutter downers did lay plywood to get their equipment in close and the soil under the plywood showed a depression in the shape of that plywood for several weeks after. |
|
| I did find a company that does mulch blowing, but I'm waiting on a callback. |
Please Note: Only registered members are able to post messages to this forum. If you are a member, please log in. If you aren't yet a member, join now!
Return to the Soil Forum
Instructions
- You must be a registered member and logged in to post messages on our forums.
- Posting is a two-step process. Once you have composed your message, you will be taken to the preview page. You will then have a chance to review the contents and make changes.
- After posting your message, you may need to refresh the forum page in order to see it.
- It is illegal to post copyrighted material without the owner's consent.
- HTML codes are allowed in the message field only.
- No advertising is allowed in any of the forums.
- If you would like to practice posting or uploading photos, please visit our Test forum.
- If you need assistance, please Contact Us and we will be happy to help.