Mulch is the unsung hero of every thriving garden—skip it, and you’re missing a trick! It locks in moisture, keeps weeds at bay, and gives your plants a leg up without constant watering. Think of it as a cozy blanket for your soil.
But here’s the kicker: you don’t need to spend a dime to reap the benefits. I stumbled upon a goldmine of ideas that showed me mulch is practically hiding in plain sight! From curbside treasures to backyard finds, free mulch is just waiting to be scooped up.
Let’s dig into the dirt and uncover these clever tricks together.
#1 Don’t Just Throw Away Newspapers After Reading
If you are someone who buys and reads newspapers every day, great!
Save them to make mulch for your plants. Thanks to newspaper, there won’t be a trace of weeds in your garden! It’s also useful if you don’t want flowers spreading all over your garden. You know how far mint can spread! If you place newspaper on the ground, you’ll prevent their further spread.
Here’s how you can do it! Put down five pages around the plant, you can even cut them up if it’s easier for you. Water the paper so the wind doesn’t blow it away. Then cover with soil, and that’s all you need to do. It will take longer to decompose, but you’ll be able to see the effectiveness!
#2 Stop The Commercial Mulching Machine Passing Through Your Neighborhood
Have you noticed professional tree pruners in your neighborhood? Stop them! They collect branches that can become free mulch for your garden.
Whenever I see their truck approaching, I head out to the road to greet them. Now, months later, they already know what I need so they stop in front of my house and honk for me to come out for my mulch.
A few weeks ago, as a gesture of thanks, I gave them a basket of tomatoes. They were thrilled and said it was truly worth it!
#3 Go On A Trip And Visit A Horse Ranch
Now it’s time for a little trip! Search for horse ranches near you. There, you can find straw to use as mulch. Best of all, there’s also horse manure! This will provide nutrients to your soil and make your plants grow like crazy.
The best way to end the day is by spending time with these amazing animals. You can go horseback riding and celebrate your successful search!
#4 Save Lawn Clippings After Mowing
If you’re always in the garden and mowing your lawn, don’t throw away the clippings! You can use them as mulch. This will provide your soil with nitrogen, which many plants benefit from.
You can even mix them with leaves that fall from your trees. The combination of these two makes excellent humus and can improve heavy clay soil in your garden!
#5 If You Live Near The Beach, Collect Seaweed
If you live near a coastal area, you’re lucky! You’ll need to focus on seaweed!
Next time you go swimming, bring some bags and get ready for action. Search only for dry seaweed, if it’s wet it won’t be useful. You’ll be able to find it everywhere, and they are perfect as mulch for plants!
#6 Gather Leaves From Your Trees
Here’s another way to get free mulch that has been right under your nose all this time. Leaves! So, from now on, don’t throw them away. Instead, save them for your plants.
I have plenty of deciduous trees in my garden, and I always manage to collect a lot of fallen leaves. It’s even eco-friendly mulch, which is great for your environment.
#7 Check If Your City Has Free Mulch Programs
Did you know that many cities offer free mulching programs? So, search for one in your area because it will be very beneficial to you!
This mulch is typically made of trees and shrubs collected in one big pile. All you’ll need is a shovel. Bring a large bag and start digging! You’ll be able to take enough to last you for the whole season.
#8 Make Compost From Kitchen Ingredients
Last but not least on the list is compost! It’s rich in nutrients that will be excellent for your plants. It has definitely proven to be the best for vegetable gardens.
The best part is that you can find compost ingredients in your kitchen. Some of them are eggshells, coffee grounds, and tea bags. Whatever you choose, you can’t go wrong!
I don’t want to waste any of your time. You need to plan an unforgettable adventure and start searching for mulch! I did it the same way, and now I have enough even for next season.
Best of all, it’s free! You won’t need to spend a lot of money on buying it. I even save extra cash for vacation. You’ll be able to do that, too. A little getaway for the weekends, perhaps? After all, you really deserve it!
#9 Check With Local Sawmills for Free Bark and Wood Shavings
If there’s a sawmill nearby, you might have hit the jackpot! These places produce plenty of wood shavings and bark, which work perfectly as mulch.
A friend of mine told me about this, so I decided to give it a try. I stopped by a local sawmill, and they had piles of extra material just waiting to be used.
The best part? They were more than happy to let me take as much as I needed! Now, I use wood shavings around my trees and bark mulch for my flower beds—it looks fantastic and keeps the soil moist for weeks.
#10 Check With Your Local Coffee Shop For Used Grounds
Coffee grounds aren’t just great for compost; they can also be used as mulch! Most coffee shops are more than happy to give them away for free.
I stopped by my favorite café one morning and asked if they had any coffee grounds to spare. Now, they save a big bag for me every week!
Coffee grounds help retain moisture in the soil, and they even deter slugs and snails. If you love coffee as much as I do, this is a win-win situation!
#11 Ask Tree Removal Services for Their Wood Chips
Here’s a clever idea that many gardeners forget about—ask tree removal companies for their wood chips! These services often have huge amounts of chipped branches and logs, and they’re usually more than happy to give it away for free.
One weekend, I saw a team cutting down a large tree just a few blocks from my house. I walked over and asked what they did with the leftover wood chips. They told me I could have as much as I wanted, and even helped me load it into my car! Now I have a beautiful layer of mulch in my garden beds that cost me nothing at all.
#12 Visit Local Farms for Old Hay or Straw
Local farms can be a goldmine for gardeners. If you stop by and ask, you might find old hay or straw that farmers are looking to get rid of. While it may not be suitable for feeding animals anymore, it’s still great for your garden!
I visited a nearby farm one morning and explained I was looking for mulch. They had several bales of slightly weathered hay and let me take a couple for free! Just make sure the hay isn’t full of weed seeds—if it is, let it sit for a while before using. It adds a rustic touch to the garden and helps retain moisture, especially in veggie beds.