When it comes to landscaping, mulch isn’t just about aesthetics—it plays a crucial role in soil moisture retention, weed suppression, and overall plant health. But once you’ve decided to mulch your yard or garden, you face a practical question: Should you order mulch in bulk or buy it bagged from the store?
At Kirk Allen Landscape Supply, we often hear this question from homeowners and contractors alike. While both options have their benefits, one typically stands out as more cost-effective, especially for larger projects. Let’s break it down.
Understanding the Basics: What’s the Difference?
Bagged Mulch
Bagged mulch is pre-packaged, usually in 2 or 3 cubic foot bags, and is sold at home improvement stores or garden centers. It’s convenient, easy to load into a car, and simple to store for future use.
Bulk Mulch
Bulk mulch is sold by the cubic yard and delivered directly to your home or job site in large quantities. One cubic yard equals about 13.5 standard bags of mulch.
Price Comparison: Bagged vs. Bulk
Let’s talk numbers.
The Bagged Mulch Route
A standard bag of mulch costs anywhere from $3.50 to $5.00, depending on the brand, type, and where you’re buying it.
For one cubic yard of coverage (about 13.5 bags), you’re looking at:
- Low end: 13.5 bags x $3.50 = $47.25
- High end: 13.5 bags x $5.00 = $67.50
This does not include your gas, time spent shopping, or labor moving the bags from your car to your garden.
Bulk Mulch Delivery
Bulk mulch from Kirk Allen Landscape Supply is typically priced between $30 to $40 per cubic yard, depending on the type (natural, dyed, cedar, etc.).
That’s already a noticeable savings.
Add delivery—let’s say between $25 and $60 depending on your location—and it’s still often cheaper than bagged mulch, especially once you’re ordering 2 cubic yards or more.
Other Cost Factors to Consider
1. Labor and Effort
- Bagged mulch: You have to haul bags, sometimes heavy and awkward, from the store to your vehicle, then from your car to the yard.
- Bulk mulch: It’s delivered and dumped in a convenient location. You just load your wheelbarrow and spread.
2. Waste
With bagged mulch, there’s often leftover plastic waste. Bulk mulch is dumped loose—no packaging, no cleanup.
3. Storage
Buying more bagged mulch than needed means you have to store bulky bags. With bulk mulch, you can get the exact amount delivered, or even just a little extra for future use.
Coverage Efficiency: Bulk Is Better for Bigger Yards
If you’re just filling a couple of flower beds, bagged mulch may be fine. But for anything more—like mulching an entire yard or around trees, shrubs, and garden beds—bulk delivery wins.
Here’s a rough guideline for mulch coverage:
- 1 cubic yard = covers 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep
Planning to cover 300–400 sq ft? You’ll need 3–4 cubic yards. Imagine carrying over 50 bags in your car. That’s multiple trips—or one bulk delivery.
Product Quality and Selection
At Kirk Allen Landscape Supply, we take pride in offering premium mulch that’s locally sourced, eco-friendly, and long-lasting. Our dyed mulches retain their color better than store-bought options. Our cedar and hemlock blends offer natural insect resistance and a beautiful finish.
Stores often offer generic or mass-produced mulch—frequently filled with shredded pallets or dyed scrap wood. With bulk mulch, especially from a trusted supplier, you’re more likely to get consistent quality.
Environmental Considerations
- Bagged mulch often uses plastic packaging, which contributes to landfill waste.
- Bulk mulch eliminates packaging altogether, making it the more sustainable choice.
Choosing bulk not only saves you money—it’s also kinder to the planet.
Convenience of Delivery
Many people assume that bulk delivery is complicated or messy. At Kirk Allen, we make it easy.
Here’s how our process works:
- Place your order online or by phone.
- Choose your delivery date and time window.
- We deliver your mulch exactly where you want it (driveway, side yard, etc.).
- You start mulching—no trips to the store, no lifting heavy bags.
Need help calculating how much mulch you need? Our team is happy to assist.
When Bagged Mulch Might Make Sense
We won’t deny—there are a few situations where bagged mulch might be the right call:
- You need only a small amount (under 1 cubic yard).
- You don’t have space for a mulch pile on your property.
- You want to work on your project gradually over time and store materials indoors.
But for most homeowners in Flemington, Clinton, Hackettstown, and surrounding areas, bulk delivery is the clear winner.
Why Homeowners in Hunterdon and Warren Counties Choose Kirk Allen
We’ve built our reputation on fast, reliable, and friendly service. Our delivery team knows the local area well and respects your property. Whether you’re a homeowner looking to freshen up your landscape or a contractor with a deadline, we’ll make sure your mulch is there—on time and ready to spread.
Need other materials like topsoil, decorative stone, or crushed gravel? We deliver those too—often on the same truck!
Final Verdict: Bulk Mulch = Bigger Savings + Less Hassle
So, is bulk mulch delivery more cost-effective than bagged?
In most cases—absolutely. Especially when you’re ordering 2 or more cubic yards, the numbers, convenience, and quality all point to bulk as the better option.
And when you order from Kirk Allen Landscape Supply, you’re not just getting mulch—you’re getting decades of local expertise and trusted service.
