Details

Yard waste mulch is ground through a 3 inches by 4 inches screen which produces pieces 3.5 inches to 4 inches long, and no greater than 1 inch in circumference with a majority of the material smaller than 1/2 inch.

Price

$40 per 3 cubic yard scoop

Origin

Made from clean yard waste brought to the landfill by residents, local government collection programs and contractors of Orange County. The yard waste is chipped and aged at least 70 days to allow the mulch to decompose slightly prior to sale. The decomposition process creates a heat surge that “fixes” the organic material so it will not harm plants when applied directly to landscapes. The heat surge also reduces the presence of pests, pathogens and fertile weed seeds.

Application

Mulch is most commonly used to top dress gardens and landscapes to provide a distinct boundary for landscaped and garden areas, to suppress weed growth without the use of chemicals and to help soil retain moisture. It can also be effective as a ground cover to help control erosion in certain circumstances. 

Spring and fall are the best times of year to apply mulch. One cubic yard of mulch spread two inches thick will cover approximately 180 square feet of ground. Spread mulch evenly, but avoid mulching directly around stems and trunks of trees.

Details

Compost is a dark, crumbly soil-like material that is an excellent natural soil additive. It can help transform heavy red clay or loose sand into rich fertile soil without the use of chemicals. 

Price

Two purchasing options:

• $40 per one cubic yard scoop. Trucks and trailers only.
• $8 per one cubic foot bag. 

Origin

Produced by a commercial composting firm located in Goldston, North Carolina, Brooks Contractors. Food waste collected in the County’s food waste collection programs combined with other organics such as manure, wood chips, and agricultural waste, create the feedstock for this rich compost.

“Class A” is the highest grade given to compost in the State of North Carolina’s regulatory ranking system. The incoming materials are mixed in proper ratios of carbon and nitrogen and piled into windrows. The temperature, moisture and oxygen are controlled to accelerate decomposition. This process allows the finished material to fully stabilize after which it will not overheat or produce unpleasant odors.

Application

Compost is typically blended with native soils depending on the application. This product is suitable as a soil amendment to naturally enhance the nutritive value of your soil, improving plant and crop growth, while also helping soils to retain moisture and prevent erosion. It is suitable for unrestricted use on crops, landscape plants, turf or ornamentals.

To rejuvenate an impoverished soil or establish a new garden plot, apply 2 to 3 inches of compost, and dig it into the surface of the soil.