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Florida Gardening

Where to get free compost/mulch in Orlando?

10 years ago

Hi
I am trying to amend my soil which is a100% builder sand. I have heard that some people are getting free compost from Disney World. I have tried searching on internet to no avail. This is so frustrating considering that I live right behind Disney World. I am also looking to get free mulch/compost from OC landfill. Thanks

Featured Answer

PittyPat

9 years ago

If you are a cast member, you can get compost from the facility on Bear Lake Rd. Rumored to be compost from animal kingdom - giraffes, elephant, rhino manure. :-) Shovel your own. Smells to high heaven, but makes things grow like crazy.

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Comments (8)

abnorm
10 years ago
As a County resident.....you can get a Free pickup truck load at the Orange County Landfill........

The quality varies.....I often find broken glass bits and rocks in the mix...bring your shovel.....you need to load it yourself....Make sure you have a cover for the load.....

doug
Orlando-Dave
10 years ago
I know of two. The OC landfill as you mentioned but you have to shovel it yourself. Good for small quantities.

I would also recommend Monterey Mushroom in Zelwood. I know some people are down on the compost material they provide but I have had good luck with it. It is not free but very cheap. If you can bowwow a dump trailer I paid $15 dollars for a 7x14 trailer full and they can load a trailer with one scoop of their front end loader. It takes a full season to decompose down but is a good way to add organic material in a short period of time. I used this to jump start my raised beds and now just compost with typical material. I would call first. You can also ask at the guard shack if they have mushrooms and if they have overstock you can get a whole bag full for very cheap.

5949 Sadler Rd, Zellwood, FL 32798
(407) 905-4000
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First off, where do you live? If you live in one of the Northern VA counties, then you are entitled to go to one of their sites -- 4 Mile Run at Walter Reed Dr in Shirlington; off Eisenhower Ave in Cameron Station, and there's one off Glebe in N Arlington -- to get their bark mulch or leaf mulch. My brother lives in Park Fairfax so I go in his name. This is the only municipality in the area I know of that separates the bark product from thie chopped leaves. I much prefer the latter. If you live in College Park, I have recently learned that they have a facility off Rhode Island Ave that produces LeafPro (finished leaf compost) and sells it at cost to local residents. I understand they deliver too. No idea what they charge nonresidents. If you are in PG County, there is a facility on 301 near Chew Rd. No idea what is available for DC residents. Does this help? Lynn
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free--- mulch to everyone no matter where you live. Hi! to every one I just joined. I live in Mansfield and I called everywere to find free mulch. Mansfield doesn't give any free. Arlington, Fort Worth, Burleson all said you have to be a resident of there city. I found one place in Dallas that gives it for free. Preservation Tree 2222 Empire Central, Dallas Tx.75235 (near love field) Phone # 214-528-2266 ext. 201 (ask for Kelly) www.preservationtree.com You can get all you want for free,you load your self or If you have a truck or trailor they may help load with a bob cat. Call first to make sure they have some in stock. They usualy do. check in with recptionist she will show you where you can load. for small ammounts bring your own contaniers.
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In my area xeriscape is the norm---not green grass. Not crazy about using animal manure here in the 'burbs and with all the e.coli scare. The few little green things we throw away aren't enough to do any good. I have access to a pickup truck, so I load about as much wood chips as I can manage from the transfer station, take it home and throw Urea or Ammonium Sulfate fertilizer on it until it starts perking. (I live in an alkaline area). In the fall, leaves are better than anything.
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saldut
10 years ago
You might try some local stables for horse manure...they usually have loads of it and want to get rid of it---and free is good! sally
orlchris
10 years ago
Orange County Landfill gives it away for free. Take your pickup truck, garbage cans, buckets, boxes, planters, pots or whatever you're going to fill it with! Don't forget a shovel!

If you want a large amount you can call 407 442 8937 to get a dump trailer to meet you there so you can load it and have a large amount picked up and delivered to your garden site.
edenh
Original Author
10 years ago
Thank you all! Does anyone know anything about getting compost from Disney World? MY BIL told me that he knows some people who got the compost from there. The problem is he doesnt know how to get in touch with them. I will try to get some compost from OC. Thanks
jainagc
9 years ago
The city of orlando is giving free compost containers to their residents, here is the link. http://www.cityoforlando.net/solidwaste/composter/
wisconsitom
9 years ago
"Compost" which smells bad is not well-made compost. True compost, even that prepared with animal manures as one ingredient, is sweet and pleasant. Only material which is either not done, or worse yet, has been allowed to go anaerobic gets a bad smell. What's more, some of the funky chemicals which can form in anaerobic conditions can be quite bad for plant growth.

But again, true, well-made compost never smells bad.

+oM

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