I'd bid it 1.5 yards hardwood mulch at $250 and another $75 or $100 for site prep.

 

What does site prep entail? I've actually dialed that in at $90 for her already, as I think I can get it done in about two hours, so I'm glad that was close. I was just going to weed it, pull the old weed fabric out, and probably have to dig some of the dirt out to make it a bit deeper. At least along the border, so mulch doesn't pour onto the grass.

That seems expensive for mulch. That's almost $165/yard. Is that your typical rate?

 

Site prep is the weeding, fabric Removal and Disposal(R&D) and any digging. The mulch price is high because its such a small job. I cant get my price any lower than $325 for me to show for 2 hours. If this was a job that needed 15 yards of mulch the first yard would be $150 and maybe 75 a yard for the other 14 yards. This isn't something I usually tell the customer, just give them a price of $1200 for 15 yards of mulch.

 

I'm trackin'. I'm not gonna charge that high just because this is my first mulch job, and I don't have a lot of clients currently. I do also have her for regular lawn maintenance as well, so hopefully need more landscaping services in the future.

I really like how you may discount the mulch pricing a bit if it's a larger job. I wouldn't have considered that. I'll definitely keep it in mind when I get larger jobs.

 

One last question:

How do y'all show mulch installation on an invoice? I haven't sent it yet, but this is how I have it set up to look:

 

Can't see it

 

For dump and spread with no prep at all we are now at $85 per yard delivered and installed. That's a price increase from the beginning of the year.

 

I price mulch at $95/yard delivered and spread for dyed mulch. I can get it for $30/yard plus tax if I am picking it up, and $45ish delivery fee if I need more than 2 yards. Any bed prep is extra.

 

Where do you get it from for that low of a price? The place I went to today had it for about $3.26/ft...So almost $90/yd.

 

We pay $15 yrd for premium dyed (painted) triple hammered hardwood mulch. $12 for the junk that turns grey in about a month (I don't use it).

 

Is that a picked up price or by the semi load?

 

Look for local landscape supply yards. Go there with a copy of your biz license. Ask for a wholesale account. Tell them you want to work with one supplier.

 

Here is how I would price it, I may be able to provide some insight since we are both at a similar point in business.

For bed prep which I would consider ripping up landscape fabric, using a hoe to remove the weeds, and then use some clippers to clean the bushes up a little bit. Then use your trimmer to just clean up the edge a little. I would price $100 for all that.

For mulch I would price $200, really $10-20 savings going bulk doesn’t make sense to me for such a small job. I use bagged for jobs that are 20 yards! I would go to Lowe’s and get 13 or 14 3 cubic foot bags of pine bark mini nuggets. That’ll set you back maybe $50 and it’ll be so so easy, spreading will take you 20 minutes.

So $300 would be my bid! Let me know what you end up doing.

 

I would pull in $350 plus any day easily for that and add another $75 to prune the bushes

I have the luxury of a small dump trailer though.

And I prefer natural mulch over any coloured stuff, here is an after and before

 

Have also done well with black lava rock

 

Have also done well with black lava rock View attachment 410766 View attachment 410767 View attachment 410768

Do you get the black lava in bulk or in bags? I like that look but can't seem to find any near me other than bags for fire pits which are too expensive to put down in beds.

 

Estimate your labor to prep beds and install mulch. Don't under estimate. Charge for the time to get the mulch too. Then charge for the materials. Be sure she knows that burmuda grass in the beds will probably come back. Get yourself a 1 gal of sprayer and keep roundup in it and spray the beds whenever you see weeds start to pop in it. Just takes a minute when you mow. That is something I always did for my customers. Spray weeds in cracks in the drives etc. But I would also spray round-up around fences and stuff to keep them looking good and reduce weedeating.

 

I can't spray herbicide unfortunately, as I'm not licensed for it. I can always flame-treat it as I go, though.

 

I get it in bulk

 

You’re full of it if you’re trying to convince this new guy he can charge $165 a yard for mulch lolol. Who would pay that, you can get river rock installed by me for $200 and it will last forever. Mulch you are realistically looking at $90-100/ yd. maybe $120 if it’s just 1.5yd... if she’s getting other quotes for this job and yours says $165 no way will you get it

 

You're full of it if you're trying to convince this new guy he can charge $165 a yard for mulch lolol. Who would pay that, you can get river rock installed by me for $200 and it will last forever. Mulch you are realistically looking at $90-100/ yd. maybe $120 if it's just 1.5yd... if she's getting other quotes for this job and yours says $165 no way will you get it

Hmm, I'm quoting mulch at $150/yard recently. Plus prep work.

 

Well I’d never do the job to begin with I have heavy equipment so I’m not doing anything under $500 profit so most jobs I am taking on are at least $1k. I just would see someone hiring a teenager to do bags of mulch that they picked up, for something that small. 1.5 yards is 20 bags which can be had for about $60 around here.

 

You're full of it if you're trying to convince this new guy he can charge $165 a yard for mulch lolol. Who would pay that, you can get river rock installed by me for $200 and it will last forever. Mulch you are realistically looking at $90-100/ yd. maybe $120 if it's just 1.5yd... if she's getting other quotes for this job and yours says $165 no way will you get it

She's already hired me for regular lawn maintenance, as well as bed cleanup, and I was referred by her friend who I did good work for. I think I have pretty good odds, considering the mulch itself is gonna run around $60.00.

You may not be charging enough for your services.

 

I think $325 to prep and install a yard and a half of mulch is fair. I never said this is what he should charge only what I would charge. Getting a yard and half mulch delivered around here is going to set you back at least $125 and you are going to do the job for $150- its yours.

I'm guessing you just use delivery for when it's a few yards? I feel like I can do 1.5 yards on my trailer in one trip. But I haven't actually tried it yet, so I might be far off the mark.

 

I have a dump truck that will haul 10 yards of mulch. Raking the mulch out of the back into my 10 cu ft wheelbarow I can install a yard and a half very quick. 1.5 yards will fit most trailers, maybe have them dump the mulch on a tarp and tie the sides up if its going to spill out.

 

Why don’t you quote your delivery fee separate? It’s smart to do that because then you don’t seem high with the per yard cost. Plus, they can call around and see that delivery costs $100 from the yard if they call it in, and you’re only charging $75. And if they want to have it on site ready to go, more power to them

 

Why don't you quote your delivery fee separate? It's smart to do that because then you don't seem high with the per yard cost. Plus, they can call around and see that delivery costs $100 from the yard if they call it in, and you're only charging $75. And if they want to have it on site ready to go, more power to them

No wonder you charge so much. Delivery around my area is around $50.

 

Look at Tiger trailers. I passed a guy a few days ago with one and had to wipe the drool from my mouth as I swerved to miss the people in front of me. Kidding. But yes it was that nicely built. I think they are out of TX. Stay away from big tx. That's what one of mine is.

 

Those are gorgeous! Any idea how much they cost?

Was eyeing the 4ft sides with the gas can rack and all that fancyness. I've considered financing a trailer (they aren't that expensive, but I don't currently have the revenue stream to just outright buy one) but the trailer I have right now is technically doing the job, so...

 

It's $50 to $60 here up to about 25 miles away from the dealer. That's for up to 15 yards I believe... The most their dump can carry in a single load.

 

A yard and a half is only 20 bags, I would do bags for that amount

 

@Cross Creek Lawn Care 38 cu. ft. + bed prep I quoted $310 and got it approved! Thanks for the advice everyone!

Also, @Youngandfree This is the trailer I'm currently working with, and the disposal I did for $50. -face palm-

Couple questions. Do I need to get absolutely every little thing out of this bed before I lay down 2" of mulch? I got up as much of the old weed fabric as possible, and dont really see anymore.

Should I out a pre-emergent down before I lay down the mulch? Do I need to dig out a layer of dirt?

I plan on going back to rake it out one more time and lay down the mulch on Sunday. Want to be prepared before then!

 

Great bid! Glad they accepted. Looks very clean from what I can see, go ahead and spread mulch. Pre emergent would be good but I'm not sure if you can legally install it unlicensed. How long did it take you to clear?

 

A pesticide is a pesticide is a pesticide (herbicide in this case). Yeah, you're gonna need a license as far as I know in all 50 states.

 

Job is done. Got a bit of mulch in the yard, but nothing crazy.

1) I'll be wearing a bandana over my face next time.

2) This dye got everywhere...

3) Ultimately went with a mulch distributor. Loaded my trailer with 1.5 cu. yards for $59.00

 

Take your blower and blow the mulch out of the grass and off the edging, then it will look finished.

$59 for 1.5 yards isn’t very good from a bulk wholesaler. But if you bought it at a garden center type place that’s about right.

Once you do more mulch, you will look back and have a good laugh at how much you worried about perfect bed prep. Looks good though.

 

Take your blower and blow the mulch out of the grass and off the edging, then it will look finished.

$59 for 1.5 yards isn't very good from a bulk wholesaler. But if you bought it at a garden center type place that's about right.

Once you do more mulch, you will look back and have a good laugh at how much you worried about perfect bed prep. Looks good though.

Man. I looked at Home Depot, was about $60 bagged I think. Looked at a local landscaping place and was around $90.

Just not good mulch prices here I guess.

And yeah, I'm going back to clean up tomorrow. Was a bit rushed towards the end, and I forgot my blower.

Thanks! The lady said she is happy with it.

 

Define the bed area, strip out the old mulch, fabric and soil/weeds so you have 3-4” of depth for the new mulch, apply the mulch, so as to not bury the crown or root flare of shrubs/trees (no volcanos), grade rake surface of mulch, the bed should be outline edged with a 6” deep edge, the mulch should be tamped into the base of edge with back of steel rake, spring rake outer edge of the bed to remove any misplaced mulch, debris. If you buy mulch for say $30.00 sell for $60.00 installed plus labor to prep. That should cover your costs plus about 20% profit.