I'm suprised none of the municipalities were able to help you. I live across the river from you in Penn Hills, and I know I've seen listings where you can get the municipal mulch. Maybe you could check with a local landscaping company and see if they would want to get rid of their clippings by giving them to you? You might also want to check with the local environmental organizations (like the PA Resource Council) to see if they could direct you anywhere. I'm sure there's free mulch to be had.

Well, here in Dormont, the municipality makes it available for the taking from time to time.

I drive by every day, and there hasn't been anything available yet this season.

Hello - I'm a short stone's throw from you. Although I've never checked it out myself, I've heard that the city of Pittsburgh has composted leaves/etc. that are available. Someone else told me that I shouldn't use it because you don't know what is in it.

Usually I use bags of cow manure or mushroom manure from Busy Beaver for small areas. Otherwise, I've gotten a one yard delivery of mushroom manure from a local supplier for about $25 plus delivery. The mushroom manure smelled faintly when it was delivered but the smell goes away quickly. The bags of manure are decomposed and don't smell. If you are doing a front yard garden, the bags would be very easy and convenient to use - you could even use a combination of cow, mushroom, peat moss, and top soil in bags.

What kind of garden are you working on? Is it sunny or shade? Perennials?

Karen

Hi Karen,

I have two sort of raised beds in front, one has several young azaleas and one rhodie, the other has ornamental grasses (just planted), lavender and day lilies. I have contacted several nursuries to get prices, and I was going to get mushroom compost, but I have learned that it isn't good for acid loving plants like my azaleas.

Since I don't have much money to spend, I was hoping to save some money- but I agree about the municipal compost. Others have emailed me to warn of possible lawn chemicals or pesticides, so I am less enthused now!

If you can forward a recommendation, that would be great!

Thanks...

Starbucks gives away coffee grounds. You can add them to what you have to bulk up a bit. They are green so it will help break down your compost faster.

Hi Newbie - I've used mushroom manure all over the place without any problems, but then again, I usually add a ferterlizer for rhodies/holy/azelea.

Low battery . . . more later.

Karen

Back . . . I'm not sure where else to get compost other than making your own which takes time and won't help you this year. My shrubs do well with little care other than a little ferterlizer and some mulch.

Are you hoping to plant more perennials? I am having much better luck with my perennials now that I added mushroom manure to loosen up the soil.

Karen

Thanks, all! I had already boosted my compost with the grounds (there is a Starbucks nearby), so I was ahead of the game. ;-)

Busy Beaver has a reasonably priced bag of mushroom compost, so I got a half dozen and managed to spread it between rain storms. I know it should help my perennial bed, especially the sunflowers. The other bed is "naked" for the moment (with the Rhodes and Azaleas), but I will see what I can find on sale next month. I am also going to follow up with some of the tree guys that I see around the area-maybe I can score some wood chips....

Thanks again!

You can get it cheaper if you have it delivered by the yard. And even cheaper than that if you go pick it up yourself. If you have a SUV, you could lay a tarp down in the back--or ask to borrow a neighbor's pick up truck. Buying in bulk is always cheaper by than buying bags. You can find the places along the highways. They always have huge mounds of mulch and rocks stacked up. There's two on Route 8 wihin a 1/4 mile of each between the intersections of Butler Plank Road and Elfinwild Road, both on are lights on Route 8. There are probably ones nearer to you but that's an example of where to get it in bulk.

Here is a link that might be useful: shaler street map

I get wood chips from our cemetary. They let the chippers dump there and you just go and shovel it yourself. Bit of work but hey, free is free. So far we have gotten about 13 full size pick up trucks full. we are loading up for next year but have not gotten any recently due to heat and other life thing that come up.