What's the best way to do this without just a shovel, wheelbarrow, and a bow rake?

Depending on where you are there are a couple landscaping companies that do this work. They use these lawn spreaders. You can rent them, but hard to find. And the issue becomes how you load the hopper. 6-8 yards isn't too bad.

https://www.ecolawnapplicator.com/products/eco-250/

I'm trying to plan the same kind of project with 10-12 yards to level some bad areas and work in some organic matter. I'll likely just do it over the course of a week the old fashioned way with a leveling rake. Was quoted $1k from a company I know of for 5,000 sq ft, but some of that was being out of their service range in Dallas.

10andBOUNCE said:

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Depending on where you are there are a couple landscaping companies that do this work. They use these lawn spreaders. You can rent them, but hard to find. And the issue becomes how you load the hopper. 6-8 yards isn't too bad.

https://www.ecolawnapplicator.com/products/eco-250/

I'm trying to plan the same kind of project with 10-12 yards to level some bad areas and work in some organic matter. I'll likely just do it over the course of a week the old fashioned way with a leveling rake. Was quoted $1k from a company I know of for 5,000 sq ft, but some of that was being out of their service range in Dallas.

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This is exactly what I was thinking to use but hadn't seen anything.

I'm up in Prosper (north dallas). Know of any places that rent these?

I don't but will ask the guys I got a quote from who rents them in north Dallas.

Might be worth asking what they would charge since you're close-ish to their location in Lavon. Probably going to run $200 for the rental plus another $2-300 for compost delivery. Unless you want the beating of doing it yourself, which I can appreciate!
Snug Valley Turf & Land Mgmt
469-826-7595

ChoppinDs40 said:

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10andBOUNCE said:

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I don't but will ask the guys I got a quote from who rents them in north Dallas.

Might be worth asking what they would charge since you're close-ish to their location in Lavon. Probably going to run $200 for the rental plus another $2-300 for compost delivery. Unless you want the beating of doing it yourself, which I can appreciate!
Snug Valley Turf & Land Mgmt
469-826-7595

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Thanks. Was looking at doing myself. I can probably put 3 yards in my truck bed. I'm no stranger to back breaking all day yard work. Put out almost 4 yards of mulch myself this weekend.

Added a river rock bed with flagstones a few weekends ago. Almost 3,000 lbs of stone/rocks. Wheelbarrow and a shovel

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Sounds about like me, I appreciate that!

Compost is easy to put out. Very light.

Dump wheelbarrow in spots and rake into the grass with some of the blades showing. Water.

only reason i hate doing it is because I don't have a truck and my compost place is only open for a few hours on Saturday. pain is just getting it to the house.

Home Depot Rentals might help a little bit $27/day
0.13cy rolling mulch spreader "Landize"
McKinney & N. Frisco
but filling it up 60 times .... mmmmm

The closest ECO 250 rental found on line was Houston and many in Central & NE USA
for $185-220/day
making hiring the whole tamale done by pros = done in a single day, losing the 40% markup intended for DIY savings but having time to DIY another yard project sooner.

Most pros around here don't rent out money making tools for fear of breakage then contracts not fulfilled.

HDeathstar said:

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Compost is easy to put out. Very light.

Dump wheelbarrow in spots and rake into the grass with some of the blades showing. Water.

only reason i hate doing it is because I don't have a truck and my compost place is only open for a few hours on Saturday. pain is just getting it to the house.

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I know I just didn't want to have to fill up 60 wheelbarrows or whatever.

Have you tried one of the manual compost spreaders like the Landzie? I am kind of curious if they work better than the shovel and rake method for when I do this in a few weeks. May just rent one from HD for the $11 daily rate to try it out.

I put out 5.5 yards of bags. $2 per 2.0 cu ft now at Lowe's. Easy to dump it by the bag.

Whitetail said:

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I put out 5.5 yards of bags. $2 per 2.0 cu ft now at Lowe's. Easy to dump it by the bag.

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Compost or mulch? I put about 50 bags of mulch in my truck last weekend (just under 4 yards)

Also, I'm not seeing compost $2 a bag. Agreed tho, bag would be quicker and easier. Can put 4 bags in a wheelbarrow at a time.

That seems like a lot of work for not much material.

Premium black mulch @ Lowe's

I bought this one last month to spread peat moss to help with a recurring fungus issue in my St. Augustine. Works amazingly well for peat moss. I think it would work well for fairly fine/uniform compost, but I haven't tried it yet. I compost yard and kitchen waste and it just isn't fine enough to use in the spreader

Got it yeah. That's mulch not compost

Yeah sorry for my poor reading skills.

Just ordered 10 yards to get delivered today. Any bets on how many wheelbarrows this is going to be?

Quote:

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Just ordered 10 yards to get delivered today. Any bets on how many wheelbarrows this is going to be?

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depends on how big your wheelbarrow is. Most are 3 cu ft, so that'd be 90 loads. have fun.

Now you gotta count em for us since you asked. I am guessing closer to 60 loads.

Are you planning to put down Pre Emergent again with the new dirt being spread and potential for weeds?

Also what dirt did you end up with and $ per yard? I went a couple days ago and they were trying to sell me on a pro mix that was $70 per yard! It was nice, but that is a lot of $$$ to spread out on my lawn.

I gather I'm 40% through the like. About 4-5 hours of work today.

I didn't count exactly but I'd bet I dumped 30-35 today.

I put down pre emergent right before it got delivered.

I paid $45/yard of screened soil with compost. It's good soil. Smells like doodoo. Has some clay and sand in it.

$190/delivery fee.

You mind sharing where you sourced the compost? I need to do the same.

https://www.livingearth.net

You get er done?

They really just dumped it on the street like that??

I laid a tarp down. I asked them to. Much easier to clean than my paver driveway. I've got 130' frontage on my lot and we have 30' wide streets in the hood.

That dirt ain't bothering nobody

It was a huge dump truck. 18000 lbs of dirt