Looking for free mulch in St. Pete? Before you load up a cart at the garden center, know that the city and Pinellas County will hand it over at no cost. The county’s Mulch Pickup Program offers free mulch at 15 locations, and seven of them are in St. Pete. Bring a pitchfork, a truck or trailer, and a little elbow grease, and you can refresh every flower bed in your yard for nothing. Here is where to go, when to go, and what to know first.
Where to Get Free Mulch in St. Pete
You have seven pickup spots to choose from, split between the city and the county.
City Brush Sites
The city runs five brush sites, and regular mulch is free to pick up at any of them. They are open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., seven days a week, and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Day. Staff will ask for proof of residency, like your driver’s license, at the entrance.
- 1000 62nd Ave. NE
- 7750 26th Ave. N
- 2500 26th Ave. S
- 4015 Dr. Martin Luther King St. S
- 2453 20th Ave. N Not up for hauling it yourself? Regular mulch can be delivered for a fee, while products like log mulch and soil builder are delivery only. Questions? Call the city at 727-893-7398.
County Sites
Two county locations also offer free mulch in St. Pete: the Solid Waste Disposal Complex at 3095 114th Ave. N and the Household Hazardous Waste Center at 2855 109th Ave. N. Personal protective equipment is required at the disposal complex, which lists hours of 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. No hours were listed for the hazardous waste center, so call 727-464-7500 before you drive out.
Free Mulch Pickup in Gulfport
Just south of the city, the Gulfport Neighborhood Center at 1617 49th St. S also has free mulch. The City of Gulfport manages it, so call 727-893-1089 with questions. Making a day of it? Check out our Gulfport guide for more to explore nearby. The program also has sites in Largo, Clearwater, Dunedin, Oldsmar, Palm Harbor, and Tarpon Springs.
What to Bring for Free Mulch in St. Pete
The mulch is free, but the loading is on you. The county says to bring a pitchfork. We would also toss gloves and a few sturdy buckets or bags in the car. If you are hauling a pickup or trailer load, you need a tarp or cover, which is required by law. The county lists no quantity limit, so take what your yard needs.
Why the County Gives Away Mulch
The free mulch in St. Pete you haul home starts as yard waste: tree and shrub trimmings, grass clippings, leaves, palm fronds, and clean wood. More than 270,000 tons of yard trash in Pinellas County gets ground into mulch every year instead of heading to disposal. County-managed sites heat the mulch to at least 131 degrees for 72 hours to cut down on weed seeds, plant diseases, and insects. Mulch also helps soil hold moisture and reduces runoff, and it is one of the nine principles of Florida-Friendly Landscaping.
Check Details Before You Go
Free mulch in St. Pete is one of those local perks that saves real money. Programs and hours can change, so confirm everything on the official Pinellas County Mulch Pickup Program page.
More helpful local resources are coming in our Did You Know? series.
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