You can put black plastic over the grass for a couple weeks to get rid of seeds in the top layer. Google “soil solarization”
Or you can get a blower truck… $50/yd spread (30+ yards). Seriously, tell your maintenance guy to take a long hike. I would be steaming mad if I got such an estimate!! $100/yd of bark spreading. Sheesh!!!
ummm…Bunsen, our lawn guy told us the same $100/yd installed…luckily we do not need jshain’s amount!
I’m guessing that mulch is at a premium here in CA, because everyone is yanking out their yards.
We will get a small ($50) rebate for putting in mulch…
Question- our reverse osmosis system is 17 yrs old and leaking. The plumber suggests replacing it. With the drought my H is suggesting we not replace it but just go with a Brita in the refrigerator.
Anyone replace an undercounted system lately?
gosmom, it is possible that is the case, but that is reflected in materials cost only, since CA has no shortage of cheap labor, so that is still expensive. Also, the smaller the amount, the higher the price per yard of the actual bark, but the labor component should stay the same.
Average cost to install per sq ft is $1. In my expensive zip code.
So yeah, I would say the guy saying $100 per sq yd, is full of probably the same stuff he puts on the beds.
http://www.homewyse.com/services/cost_to_install_mulch.html
My neighbor, didnt even try to take out the grass, he just put shredded bark down.
http://www.pacifictopsoils.com/Pricing/RetailPriceList.pdf
O.K., for the “mulch” my H wants that we are having put in in a smallish area…
I just checked with our local soils company and the price for the Fir Bark ¼-inch Clean (Mini Bark) --assuming their website is current…
$50.50 - CuYd | $33.75 - 1/2 Yd | $7.35 - 2CF Bag. Does not include delivery or tax.
Labor: $25/hour.
Yes, before anyone jumps, I realize that is high…however our “lawn” guy goes above and beyond on many things, never really charges me for all the hours he works, completely trustworthy and has handled our yard/irrigation/plants and many neighbors’ yards for years. We all love him and dread the day when he retires…
Adds up quickly…
How big is the lawn? If it less than 1/4 acre, it takes less than 2-3 hours. I know that’s how long it would take my husband and I to do it. 4 hours max. We are 2 old persons.
It took us one weekend to spread a 30-yd truck of mulch-y bark last year. And our yard is not flat. It was a great workout. 
Thanks to this thread, I’m calling the bark yard tomorrow. 80 degree weather this weekend would be perfect for “barking.”
Bunsen, not to make you feel bad but I had back surgery a few years back and don’t do my yard anymore. Granted bark is a breeze… compared to rock!
The other thing about mulch is it needs to get done AGAIN in 2-3 years! One great way to save a ton of money on mulch is to have one of the local tree service companies drop a load in your driveway, but you take whatever load they have and they drop it on your driveway. But, it’s FREE!
Too late to edit but another important feature to save water is the type of irrigation controller. My 20-station Irritrol does NOT have the capability to change the no. of days I (drip) water my shrubs and trees versus the lawns. I have to water them the same no. of days that I currently water my lawns. I cut down the watering times on the shrubs and trees, since they get watered twice per week, but the “shallower watering” really isn’t ideal. Once I replace my lawns with shrubs and trees, I am going to get a controller that can tweak the no. of watering days by zone/valve.
I get it about the back problem. jshain. I have the same problem, although different issue. I also understand the prices you have to pay, as we’re in the same boat. In spite of what one might think, there really isn’t a lot of cheap labor in California- at least not in our Los Angeles zip-code if you want legal, tax-paying workers who know what they’re doing. I prefer going with an actual business that employs and insures workers rather than finding guys on the street corners. That’s not cheap.
jshain, I totally get it - back issues are a real pain. What I meant by cheap labor is HS and college kids - CA has a ton of them. I would never hire an illegal, but I would be surprised if those “actual businesses” did not. Many more do than admit doing it. That’s why I prefer to do things myself or hire a kid I know well. Anyway, overpaying for service is never a good idea or a justified expense.
I admire all the do-it-yourselfers but I can’t say I’m one of them. We don’t have a lawn but we do have foliage and a drip irrigation system was put in about 7 years ago. We were just informed that we have a 20% cutback on our water usage starting in June. I contacted our gardener, who comes once every two weeks, and he will adjust our settings to, as I understand it, drip less water and drip less often equating to a 20% reduction. Will adjust more in the future as needed.
Bad back, I know I have hip arthritis, but for my problem, move or loose it.
We live in the California desert, which, ironically, has a very adequate and sustainable water supply, unlike the rest of the state. Instead of relying on surface water diversions, we get all of our water from protected aquifers. Most people here also have xeriscape yards which saves a ton of water.
Good luck, collage1. It’s a process. The first 15-20% is the easiest. : - )
And let’s hope they remain protected. We will really be in trouble if our groundwater is depleted. It’s a worry in some areas.
That’s a very real problem in the central valley right now. Well-drilling is loosely regulated in California (basically free, unlimited water as deep as you can drill) and farmers are taking huge advantage of it. I think I read somewhere that static water levels are dropping by as much as 60 feet / year in some areas!
i would be thrilled if I only had to apply mulch every couple years. My soil just sucks it up and I apply it twice a year, it’s slowing down finally, but pretty sandy.
I know Nestle didn’t cause the drought. But I don’t like their attitude.
We don’t buy anything they own, which admittedly can be difficult.
http://observers.france24.com/content/20150529-oregon-nestle-water-bottling-plant-cascade-privatization