What it is
Triple-ground native hardwood mulch by the cubic yard. Hardwood is what most people picture when they think "mulch" — neutral brown color, ages to gray, breaks down at a moderate rate. This is the workhorse mulch on most DFW yards. If you are not sure what to get, get this.
What it is for
A 2-3 inch layer of mulch is the cheapest thing you can do for a bed in Texas. Hardwood mulch:
- Holds moisture in the soil so you water less
- Blocks weed seeds from germinating
- Keeps soil temperatures stable through 100° summers and surprise February freezes
- Slowly breaks down to feed the soil
- Makes the bed look finished
Five yards of mulch over a Saturday is the difference between a yard that looks like work-in-progress and one that looks like somebody lives there.
What works in hardwood
Hardwood is the best general-purpose mulch for:
- Front-yard beds, foundation plantings, around trees. The all-purpose use case.
- Vegetable gardens. Breaks down faster than cedar, feeds the soil faster.
- New plantings. Holds moisture during the critical first-year root establishment.
- Anywhere you want a natural, traditional Texas-yard look.
How much do I need
One cubic yard covers about 100 sq ft at 3 inches deep — the depth to memorize:
| Bed size | Yards needed |
|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 1 |
| 200 sq ft (typical front bed) | 2 |
| 500 sq ft | 5 |
| 1,000 sq ft | 10 |
A pickup truck bed holds about 2 cubic yards level-loaded — heaping, maybe 3 in an F-150 long bed. Past that, let us deliver.
The mulch-bed wizard computes mulch yards alongside fabric and edging.
Hardwood vs cedar vs color-enhanced
| Hardwood | Cedar | Color-enhanced | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per yard | Lowest | Medium | Medium-high |
| Refresh cycle | 12 months | 18 months | 12 months (color fades) |
| Look at install | Dark brown | Light tan-brown | Sharp dyed color |
| Look at 6 months | Brown-gray | Silver-tan | Faded |
| Best for | Default, all uses | Pet areas, foundation strips | Modern hardscape contrast |
Texas/DFW specific
In our heat:
- Lay 3 inches minimum. Less than 2 and weeds germinate; mulch under 2 inches dries to a crust that won't hold moisture.
- More than 4 inches can suffocate roots and create a damp layer that attracts pests.
- Pull mulch back from tree trunks — never volcano-mulch a tree. Mulch against bark holds moisture against the cambium and rots the trunk.
- Keep mulch 6 inches off your foundation siding — keeps termite-bait conditions away from the house.
Buying tips
- Order Wednesday for weekend delivery — gives us time to pull the cleanest screening on Friday.
- Spread fresh — old mulch in piles develops a sour ammonia smell (anaerobic). Not a quality issue but unpleasant to shovel.
- Buy one extra yard for the corners you forget. Mulch is shelf-stable in a pile for a few weeks; the spot you missed is not.
Contractor notes
Tandem-load (16 yd³) or single-axle (10 yd³). Volume pricing at 5+ yards. Standing PO accepted.