Lawn Care Forum banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Best/most efficient way to load & install mulch??

Jump to Latest
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
C

CK82

· Registered
Joined
·
378 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
Hello,

Curious what everyone's process is for loading and installing mulch. I've seen contractors lining up multiple wheel barrows, then loading with a bobcat with larger bucket on the street. We are looking into replacing one or both of our Ventrac machines that mainly are used in winter, for an articulating loader with turf tires such as an Avant or similar. We can then scoop mulch from the street, run up the driveway or across the lawn depending on the property and conditions. Also use the loader then for scooping up topsoil/stone/etc. and loading wheel barrows, or again running across the lawn to where the material is to be installed.

Any feedback would be appreciated!
 
#4 ·
CK82 said:
Hello,

Curious what everyone's process is for loading and installing mulch. I've seen contractors lining up multiple wheel barrows, then loading with a bobcat with larger bucket on the street. We are looking into replacing one or both of our Ventrac machines that mainly are used in winter, for an articulating loader with turf tires such as an Avant or similar. We can then scoop mulch from the street, run up the driveway or across the lawn depending on the property and conditions. Also use the loader then for scooping up topsoil/stone/etc. and loading wheel barrows, or again running across the lawn to where the material is to be installed.

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Doesn't the ventrac have a bucket attachment?
You already have them
But bucket attachments

don't get a machine just to install mulch

dumping anything in the street is illegal in just about every municipality I have heard of... just because other yahoos are doing it, I wouldn't
You see that kind of thing in new developments where the contractor hasn't turned over street maintenance to the city yet or it's a private gated community and there's no city jurisdiction inside the gates, but that's pretty rare and usually short lived
 
Discussion starter · #5 ·
Ventrac you can get a bucket for, however it doesn't load anything, just tilts basically. The Avant loader or similar we would use just the same as the Ventrac machines in the winter, also would utilize it more in the summer than we do the Ventrac. Basically the option to load is worth a lot to us, not certain how much its worth since the Avant's all setup are probably around $40k or more.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
A small mulch blower would be awesome, from what I've researched they are pricey and a pain to maintain? I have only seen one contractor in our area with an actual mulch blower truck and none of which with a smaller tow behind blower.
 
#10 ·
CK82 said:
A small mulch blower would be awesome, from what I've researched they are pricey and a pain to maintain? I have only seen one contractor in our area with an actual mulch blower truck and none of which with a smaller tow behind blower.
Click to expand...
Mulch blowers can blow top soil and stone as well, but for a 5 series, you're looking at a 100 grand, which does include the $2200 Remote
 
#12 ·
Mowing monkey. said:
Dumping the mulch on the ground is your first mistake. I haul it on my dump truck and raise the bed until it nearly slides off and rake it into a wheelbarrow which takes hardly any effort. A funnel on the tailgate would improve the system.
Click to expand...
Image
 
#13 ·
Mowing monkey. said:
Dumping the mulch on the ground is your first mistake. I haul it on my dump truck and raise the bed until it nearly slides off and rake it into a wheelbarrow which takes hardly any effort. A funnel on the tailgate would improve the system.
Click to expand...
We do this as well. Unless we need to use the dump trailer to run multiple loads to different job sites.
 
#17 ·
If GR wasn't tied with Seattle for the most blower trucks per capita, I would have some sort of small blower\trailer.

No way in the world I would do a significant amount of mulch by hand.

Do you have an Alta Equipment by you? They rent, build the rental cost into the price.
 
#18 ·
CK82 said:
Hello,

Curious what everyone's process is for loading and installing mulch. I've seen contractors lining up multiple wheel barrows, then loading with a bobcat with larger bucket on the street. We are looking into replacing one or both of our Ventrac machines that mainly are used in winter, for an articulating loader with turf tires such as an Avant or similar. We can then scoop mulch from the street, run up the driveway or across the lawn depending on the property and conditions. Also use the loader then for scooping up topsoil/stone/etc. and loading wheel barrows, or again running across the lawn to where the material is to be installed.

Any feedback would be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Bobcat has some new small articulated too. Nothing against avant- just if you want to cross shop.
 
1 - 20 of 26 Posts
About this Discussion
25 Replies
16 Participants
Last post:
RigglePLC
Lawn Care Forum
posts
7.2M
members
230K
Since
1999
A forum community dedicated to lawn care and landscaping professionals and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about performance, modifications, classifieds, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Lawn Mowing Pesticide & Herbicide Application 🔧 Mechanic and Repair Business Operations Lawn Mowing Equipment