The City of Manitou Springs is Having a Free Mulch Giveaway on Friday June 7th.
Residents of Manitou Springs can grab free mulch at the Public Services ( 101 Banks Place in Manitou Springs on June 7 from 4 to 7 pm. This event provides an excellent opportunity for Manitou Springs homeowners to improve their yards – for free! Staff will help load it into your vehicle or you can load it into containers (like buckets yourself).
There are no specified limits on the amount of mulch you can take. However, be considerate of other residents. It isn’t clear what type of mulch is being supplied, but for most municipalities, it is usually tree bark mulch that is generated from city activities (like clearing damaged trees after storms – or from normal park maintenance operations).
The free mulch giveaway is open only to Manitou Springs residents
Do I need to be a resident of Manitou Springs to qualify for the free mulch?
Yes, only residents of Manitou Springs are eligible to receive the free mulch. For more details, please check out the official City of Manitou Springs Website.
Is Free Mulch Worth the Effort?
Mulch costs between $2 – $5 per 2 cubic feet at nearby stores in Colorado Springs like Ace, Lowe’s, Home Depot, and Walmart. A bag this size covers 12 square feet at 2 inches deep or 8 square feet at 3 inches deep. If your landscaping area is large, buying mulch can add up quickly.
If you have large planting areas requiring mulch, a free mulch giveaway can save you a lot of money
To calculate savings, consider a large yard needing 500 square feet of mulch at 3 inches deep. This would need around 63 bags of mulch, given the 8 square feet coverage per bag, totaling up to just under $315 if each bag costs $5. Free mulch giveaways can save you hundreds of dollars in such scenarios.
Benefits of Mulch
Plant Wellness
Weed Control: A thick mulch layer stops weed growth. It blocks sunlight, making it hard for weeds to grow. This lets you avoid using chemicals.
Pest Deterrent: Some mulches, like cedar, repel pests. This keeps your plants safe from insects.
Disease Barrier: Mulch protects plants from soil-borne diseases. It prevents large puddles of groundwater (which may carry disease) onto plants.
Maintaining Moisture: Mulch helps keep planting areas moist, which is crucial for healthy plants.
Soil Wellness
Moisture Retention: Mulch hangs on to that moisture and as a result reduces evaporation and keeps soil and roots moist. This means you’ll need to water your garden less often.
Temperature Control: Mulch is a fantastic insulator. Mulch keeps soil cooler in summer and warmer in winter.
Erosion Prevention: Mulch slows down running water and serves as a barrier between rushing ground water and the soil in your planting area. The result is greatly reduced erosion.
Soil Nutrients: Organic mulch decomposes. It adds nutrients back to the soil, enriching it.
Specific Types of Mulch and Their Benefits
There are several types of mulch, each with its unique benefits:
Wood Chips and Bark: Ideal for planter boxes and garden beds, wood mulch lasts a long time and remains visually appealing. Sourced from local trees, this type is popular due to its decorative look. 
Shredded wood mulch has many benefits including moisture retention and erosion resistance
Straw and Hay: Great options for vegetable gardens. They break down quickly and enrich the soil. This mulch type helps as you begin your gardening season.
Compost: Filled with rich nutrients, compost enhances soil structure and encourages microbial activity. It’s an excellent choice for improving garden health.
Rubber Mulch / Stones (inorganic mulches) : Made from recycled tires, rubber mulch suits playgrounds and high-traffic areas well. Rocks, boulders and stones are also a type of inorganic mulch. Inorganic mulch is great at preventing erosion – but they do allow the surrounding ground to warm up which can put stress on plants.
