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Gardening and landscaping require massive amounts of soil, compost, or mulch. Supplies at garden centers or hardware stores will be pricey and not even enough. To get the most value out of your money, it’s best if you’d buy in bulk.
We will share six essential things that you should do and consider when buying in bulk. You will have a hassle-free and smooth bulk-purchasing transaction if you’d carefully observe and apply our the following:
Do you even know what you’re going to buy? If you intend to landscape your backyard or garden as a hobby, you should familiarize yourself with soil products. Regardless of your project or endeavor, you at least need to be familiar and easily differentiate the three: top soil, compost, and mulch.
Top soil – is the ground soil that is usually 2-8 inches in thickness. Placed on top, hence its name, it is the most nutrient-rich and mineral-rich kind of soil. It is used to top off plant beds. It is often mixed with organic and rich material.
Compost – is soil that is made of transformed remains of decaying plants and animal matter that are nutrient-rich. It is used to make soil nutrient-rich and more productive. It can be added to top soil or any kind of soil (potting soil or garden soil) to boost the presence of nutrients. It helps sandy soil to absorb more nutrients. When added to clay soils, they allow for improved drainage. They are also good soil fertilizer.
Mulch – is used to discourage the growth of weeds. It also serves as a solid shade to the undergrowth. They usually come in the form of wood chips, shredded leaves, shredded grass clippings, sawdust, and straw. When placed on soil, it helps in the retention of moisture. It also serves as an insulator during winter.
Once you’re done with research and you’ve determined what you’ll need for your gardening or landscaping, go around and ask expert landscapers and garden hobbyists in your area. Research on cooperative extensions that can give you access to materials and networks that have connections to bulk suppliers in your area. Prioritize suppliers in your area that will offer easy transaction and delivery processing. It will also be more economic and environment-friendly.
You will be given numerous names after discussing your needs and concerns with local gardening experts and hobbyists. Organize all the data you’ve gathered and proceed with examining products.
Recommendations are good for you have actual people you know that have tried and tested actual products from suppliers. However, you should opt to examine products yourself before purchasing anything. Remember that you’re going to buy it in bulk. If you’d receive massive amounts of materials that won’t pass your standards, imagine the stress of going back and forth for returns and discussions with a supplier. It’s better to be safe than sorry.
In examining, you can opt for sample blends from suppliers. To be exhaustive, you can also hire professionals to do the testing for you. It’s better if the supplier you’d opt for that their own soil analysis department that releases certificates and verified results.
If you will do the examining yourself, always remember that topsoil and compost do not have any odor. If they would smell of anything, it has to only be of a rich and earthy smell. Good topsoil and compost are also crumbly and loose. Compost should not be chunky or coarse. When a fresh compost is offered to you, it should have some heat but it should not be hot.
Take note of the following factors:
1. Soil PH should be between 5.5 and 7.5.
2. Your compost should not have much manure-based content as it adds unnecessary nitrogen that is not good for all plants.
3. Ensure that soil texture. It should not have more than 40% of clay and more than 40% of sand. Too much clay can cause drainage problems while too much sand will make water feeding problematic.
4. Check if your soul undergoes a screening process.
5. Your soil should be 98% weed-free.
Mulch, top soil, and compost are sold by strictly following industry measurements. Bulk suppliers measure by the cubic yard. Calculate how much you need by considering the different planting depths that you would want to observe.
Once you’ve finalized your candidates for suppliers, duly compare their pricing matrix. The nearer your supplier is, the better. Consider delivery fees in your computation.
Once you’ve decided on a supplier, inquire as to their delivery options. Opt for a supplier that will deliver the products themselves so that you won’t need to hire third-party delivery services.
Once you’ve decided on your delivery options, designate a place where your delivered orders will be placed. Do know that you will be receiving massive amounts of soil that will require a big space. To avoid hassles like having your soil get wet and damaged, prepare a large tarp. Have your supplier dump the soil atop the large tarp. If you won’t use the soil immediately, cover it with a large tarp to prevent it from becoming a foul-smelling compost pile.
Soil Yourself is top soil, mulch, and compost supplier in Perth, WA. If you need supplies in bulk, we can easily provide it and provide smooth delivery services. All Soil Yourself products are taken straight from the source so all delivered products are of excellent and high-grade quality. Outside of Perth, WA, Mulch Mound supplies bulk delivery of mulch, stone and soil to residential homes.
