How difficult would it be to mulch my own yard?

[Anonymous]

The biggest areas are about 15 x 15 and 20 x 5, plus several smaller areas, such as 10 x 5, 12 x 5, 7 x 4. The truck load of mulch would be delivered in a heap in my yard and would be 3 cubic yards of mulch. I would have to shovel it into a wheel barrow and distribute it.

I've never done mulching before, but is it reasonable to think it would only take me a couple of hours, or am I going to end up frustrated? I don't really have more than a couple of hours to devote to it.

[Anonymous]

Not too bad, but the bags would be easier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not too bad, but the bags would be easier.

Thanks. The incentive for getting a load of mulch delivered is that it is free for pick-up, and free with only a $50 delivery fee if I want the city to bring it to me.

[Anonymous]

It doesn't sound terrible but yeah, those are pretty big areas. My husband does about half of that on his own without any problems, it takes him a few hours. With two people I think you could handle it.

[Anonymous]

Hope you have a strong back! It's harder than it seems. Get a day labor? Also, when they deliver, don't let them drop it off on grass area. If you let it sit for a few days, it will make a mess/kill the grass.

[Anonymous]

Definitely more than two hours, based on how quickly I do the reverse when raking leaves, and wheel-barrowing them to the curb. Recently I've changed my technique to putting out a large tarp and raking leaves onto it, then pulling the tarp to the curb and upending it. You might be able to use this technique to increase your speed.

[Anonymous]

We do our 1/4 acre lot, with lots mulch beds, in about 2-3 hours together (DH and I.) this does not count the time spend weeding and pruning the bushes (probably 4 hours) which we do the weekend before usually.

[Anonymous]

My husband and I did this and it was a fine. Knocked it out over three days after work. My only suggestion is to get a wheelbarrow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My husband and I did this and it was a fine. Knocked it out over three days after work. My only suggestion is to get a wheelbarrow.

Here's a pro tip, use a snow shovel which will allow you to load more into the wheel barrow.
I can do 3 cubic yards, in 2 hours but I work fast and like to sweat.

It's hard work worth doing yourself.

[Anonymous]

Make sure that it is attractive, good quality mulch. If it's gross then you are better off paying for the bags.

As far as difficulty goes, are you talking about putting mulch in existing beds or are you needing to create the area/garden and then fill with mulch?

[Anonymous]

3 cubic yards sounds like 3-4 hours to me. We used to do our own mulching/spring cleanup (thankful we don't anymore) and it would take a full day for two of us but that included edging and cleaning out the beds. Be careful with free mulch - it often has weeds seeds in it.

[Anonymous]

We used 9 cubic yards. It took 4 professional guys 8 hours each to do it.

[Anonymous]

We usually get 10 yards and it takes a week or so to get it spread out - chipping away at it. 3 is easy enough to do.

[Anonymous]

Consider the weather as a big factor.

[Anonymous]

I think you are underestimating the work involved. It's heavy, you have to transport it around, the shovel might be heavy, there is bending involved, dumping of the wheelbarrow, spreading it around. How in shape are you? I think it would take at least a couple hours, but probably at least double that.