If you are in US, check you local county web site (search for "free mulch" or "mulch giveaway"); you may end up getting free mulch. Check out what I found in my county. The following messages are from LFCG. When: "The LFCG provides free mulch three times a year: April, July and October, on the second and third Saturday of the month. People can pick up the mulch at the recycling center, 360 Thompson Road, from 8 a.m. to noon. Employees will fill the bed of a pickup truck with mulch, or residents can fill paper yard waste bags available for free, with coupons provided by the LFCG, at area grocery and home improvement stores." (4/14, 4/21, 2007) How to get free bags: "If you choose the bags, you will receive coupons in the mail to obtain the bags free at a variety of local retail stores convenient to you. If you choose to receive coupons for the yard waste bags, please ashearer@LFCG.com your name, daytime phone number, and address including zip code." Cheers.
