Phone them. What do you have to lose?

Yep, I start with phoning the customer service dept, which almost always has a phone number listed. Half the time they can help; the other half, they give either a direct number or transfer me to the right guy. Just don't forget to get the right guy's name -- it helps in future contacts.

Is there a freecycle board for your area? It's a message board where everything offered is free. I'm lucky enough to have one (landscaper, I believe) in my county that offered free firewood and woodchips, and if close enough, they'll deliver!

Here is a link that might be useful: Freecycle

Here, the company that trims the trees off the power lines is a contractor, not the actual power company.

I've had pretty good luck stopping whenever I see the big orange truck & asking them for the wood chips.

I always give them $20 for their time & trouble.

Best luck!

you might start with your city/county government. Many have mulch and/or compost for free, some charge, some aren't with the times yet.

In my city there is a site where residents can haul away as much mulch/compost as one wishes for free all year.

Thanks, all. I have made contact with two local tree services, each have dropped of dump truck loads of chips. I did give them $20 per load. Pretty good, as far as I am concerned- since it's delivered. One guy is going to just keep bringing chips all summer every time he sees that our pile is getting smaller.

Having this has made all the difference. I am so eager to get everything mulched. My plants are so much happier. and now, I have several plots to put the volunteer seedlings!

I just surfed the yellow pages for tree services in my city and they all have free wood chips/mulch. Waiting for a return call...thanks :)