Whether you're filling a new raised bed, refreshing your landscape, or tackling a large outdoor project, ordering soil or mulch can feel intimidating if you've never done it before.

How much do I need? Should I order bulk or bags? Will it fit in my truck? What happens on delivery day?

We've heard just about every question over the past 30 years, so we've put together this guide to help you order with confidence.

How Do I Know How Much to Order?

This is our most common question.

The easiest way to estimate your project is by using the Coverage Calculator on our website. Simply enter the square footage (length x width) and desired depth of your project, and the calculator will estimate how many cubic yards you'll need.

If you're still unsure, give us a call. We'd much rather help you calculate the right amount than have you order too little—or too much.

What Is a Cubic Yard?

A cubic yard measures 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet.

That's about the size of a standard washing machine.

Need help visualizing it? One cubic yard is roughly equal to:

• 27 one-cubic-foot bags

• About 40 standard 5-gallon buckets

Our loader buckets are factory measured, so every bucket contains the volume you're paying for.

Should I Buy Bulk or Bags?

That depends on your project.

Bulk products are the most economical choice for larger projects like:

• Raised beds

• Tree wells

• Landscape beds

• New lawns

• Mulching large areas

Bagged products are convenient for:

• Small gardens

• Container planting

• Quick weekend projects

• Areas where only a few bags are needed

What Products Do You Carry?

We offer a complete line of locally made products including:

• Soilutions Compost

• Premium Garden Soil

• Enriched Topsoil

• Potting Mix

• Forest Floor Mulch

• Native Mulch

• Pecan Shell Mulch

• Playground Mulch

Not sure which product is right for your project? Just ask! Helping customers choose the right product is one of our favorite parts of the job.

Do You Deliver?

Yes! We deliver throughout the Albuquerque metro area and surrounding communities.

Our drivers place bulk materials where it's safe and accessible, helping make your project easier from the very beginning.

For customers who prefer a more hands-off experience, ask about our Work Glove Service, where our installation partner spreads the material for you.

What Happens on Delivery Day?

Delivery day is easy!

When you place your order online, you'll select your preferred delivery day during checkout.

On the day of your delivery, your driver will give you a call when they're on the way so you'll know when to expect them.

You do not need to be home when your material is delivered. During checkout, simply provide clear delivery instructions (for example, "left side of driveway" or "inside the gate by the garden"). Our driver will place the material according to those instructions, provided the location is safe and accessible.

To help ensure a smooth delivery, we recommend moving vehicles or other obstacles out of the delivery area before your scheduled delivery day.

Once your material has been delivered, you're ready to start your project!

Can You Dump It Anywhere?

Almost.

We do our best to place your material exactly where you'd like it, provided it's safe, accessible, and located on your property.

Most customers choose to have their material dumped on their driveway, where it's easy to access with a wheelbarrow or shovel while keeping the material neatly contained.

For safety and legal reasons, we cannot dump materials on public streets, sidewalks, alleys, or other city-owned property. Deliveries must be placed on private property where our trucks can safely access the area.

If you have a preferred dump location, let us know when placing your order. If you're unsure, we're happy to discuss the best placement before delivery to help make your project as easy as possible.

Can I Pick It Up Myself? 

Absolutely! While you're always welcome to pick up material directly from our South Valley facility, you don't have to.

We partner with seven convenient pickup locations throughout New Mexico, making it easy to find Soilutions products close to home.

For customers in the Albuquerque metro area, pickup prices are the same whether you purchase from our South Valley yard or one of our in-town retail partners. Pickup prices at our Santa Fe and East Mountain locations are slightly higher to reflect the additional transportation costs.

The easiest way to find the location nearest you is to visit our website and select the "Pick Up" option. There you'll find a complete list of all pickup locations, along with directions and available products.

Whether you visit us directly or one of our trusted retail partners, you'll receive the same high-quality Soilutions compost, soils, and mulch.

Need just a small amount?

Our South Valley location also offers Scoop Your Own, where you can fill your own containers with select products sold by the gallon.

What Can I Haul Bulk Material In?

We can load bulk material into most pickup trucks and dump trailers.

As a general guide:

• Standard pickup truck: up to 1 cubic yard

• Long-bed or heavy-duty pickup: up to 2 cubic yards (depending on your truck's payload capacity)

• Dump trailers

For safety reasons, we can only load vehicles that allow overhead access with our loader.

Unfortunately, we cannot load enclosed trailers, horse trailers, cargo trailers, vans, SUVs, or other vehicles that don't allow us to safely dump material from above.

If you're unsure whether your vehicle can be loaded, give us a call before you head out. We're happy to help you determine the best option.

How Deep Should I Apply Mulch?

For most landscape beds, we recommend 3–4 inches of mulch.

This depth helps:

• Conserve moisture

• Suppress weeds

• Moderate soil temperatures

• Protect plant roots

Avoid piling mulch directly against tree trunks or plant stems.

Can I Plant Immediately?

Our compost and soil products are fully finished and ready to use. However, we recommend one simple step before planting.

During loading, transportation, and delivery, the material is mixed and exposed to fresh oxygen. This can temporarily reawaken microbial activity, causing the compost or soil to warm slightly for a short period—especially during the busy season when fresh batches are moving quickly.

For the best results, we recommend spreading the material where you want it, watering it thoroughly, and allowing it to rest for about three days before planting. This gives the material time to cool, settle, and rehydrate.

While established plants are generally unaffected, this waiting period is especially beneficial for tender seedlings, vegetable starts, annual flowers, and other young transplants that are more sensitive to stress.

A little patience at the beginning helps ensure your new plants get the best possible start.

Will Compost or Mulch Smell?

Because our products are made from natural organic materials, yes—you may notice an earthy compost smell, especially if you're purchasing compost or compost-based soils during our busiest seasons when fresh batches are selling quickly.

That odor is a natural part of the composting process and comes from the organic materials themselves as they finish stabilizing. Some people describe it as a rich forest floor smell, while others find it a bit stronger at first.

The good news is that the odor is temporary. Once the material is spread out, watered, and exposed to fresh air, it typically dissipates within three to five days.

Our mulches each have their own natural scent as well. Forest Floor Mulch has a pleasant pine aroma, while Pecan Shell Mulch has a mild, earthy fragrance.

Why Are There Small Pieces of Wood in My Compost or Soil?

We get this question often.

Those small woody particles are intentional.

They improve drainage, increase air space, and contribute organic matter as they continue breaking down.

Unlike fresh wood chips, the wood in our compost-based products has already gone through the composting process, making it an important part of healthy, living soil.

Why Doesn't Your Compost Look Like Black Dirt?

Healthy compost isn't supposed to look like potting soil.

Living compost contains a variety of particle sizes, organic matter, and beneficial microorganisms that improve soil structure over time.

Those natural textures are one of the reasons compost works so well in the garden.

Can I Return Extra Material?

Because bulk products are delivered loose and cannot be resold once they've left our facility, we aren't able to accept returns on bulk deliveries.

That's why we're always happy to help calculate your project before you order.

Still Have Questions?

That's what we're here for.

Whether you're growing tomatoes, planting trees, installing a new landscape, or simply wondering which mulch is best for your garden, our team is happy to help.

After all, we've been helping New Mexicans grow for over 30 years.

 

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The Bottom Line

Ordering soil, compost, or mulch doesn't have to be complicated. With the right product, the right quantity, and a little planning, you'll be ready to tackle your project with confidence. At Soilutions, we're here to answer your questions before, during, and after your purchase—because helping your garden succeed is just as important as delivering great products.