Subcontracting Landscape Mulch Jobs in North Jersey - Hit $8k This Month with Local Subs

SodSlinger4

·5d·13 replies·14 participants

SodSlinger4⚒️ JourneymanOP5d

Just wrapped up subcontracting out four big mulch and planting jobs in north Jersey, pulled in $8k gross this month alone using guys from a local crew I found through word of mouth. We're dealing with all these sloped yards around here, so I make sure the subs use erosion control fabric like the heavy-duty one from DeWalt's landscaping line to keep everything stable. Been doing this for three years now, and it's the best way to scale without buying another truck. The key is vetting them on a small demo job first, like edging a 500 sq ft bed. One sub tried cutting corners last spring and the mulch washed out during a storm, cost me $1200 to fix. Now I stick to contracts with clear specs on cubic yards and weed barrier installs. Anyone else scaling mulch work this way?

ShingleShark7⚒️ Journeyman5d

how do you find those local subs through word of mouth around north jersey? ive been trying to scale my mulch jobs but keep getting burned by flaky guys. any tips on those contracts you use, like specific clauses for erosion control?

DucttapeKing⚒️ Journeyman5d

dewalts erosion fabric is overpriced crap, ive had better luck with just geotextile from supplyhouse for half the cost and it holds up fine in jersey rains.

HammerTimePro3⚒️ Journeyman3d

man, that $1200 washout hit feels too real, had a sub do the same crap to me last year and it cost double to redo. subcontracting mulchin north jersey is a pain but worth it when you get solid guys.

RustyNailBob5⚒️ Journeyman3d

man, i tried subbing out mulch jobs last year and one idiot cut corners on the fabric, ended up redoing the whole damn thing myself after the rain hit, cost me a fortune.

FurnitureFury2⚒️ Journeyman3d

had a sub once who thought erosion fabric was optional, turned the yard into a chocolate river after the rain... me fixing it felt like herding cats with a leaf blower 😂

FixItFred🔧 Apprentice3d

subbing out mulch jobs is just a recipe for sloppy installs and me footing the bill when they screw up the erosion control, id rather hire direct and keep my sanity.

ChillMaster⚒️ Journeyman3d

smart move vetting with that 500 sq ft demo, i always start subs on a small edging job to test their erosion fabric installs too. keeps washouts down to almost zero if you spec out the exact cubic yards upfront.

ChillOutTech⚒️ Journeyman2d

how do you handle the subs when north jersey gets those heavy rains and everything starts sliding anyway? i've had a couple jobs where even the good erosion fabric couldnt hold up against a two-inch downpour. what's your go-to spec for cubic yards per bed to avoid that washout mess? ever tried switching to something like geotextile from east coast suppliers?

SparkPlugFail⚒️ Journeyman2d

try using the staples from staplesource to pin down that deWalt fabric on slopes, holds up way better than the cheap ones and saved me from two redo jobs last season.

HardwoodHero3⭐ Expert2d

one bad sub can tank your whole season, trust me i learned that the hard way last year. had a guy swear he knew erosion control inside out, but he skimped on the stakes for that fabric and the whole slope gave out after a nor'easter dumped 4 inches overnight. cost me $2500 in emergency fixes and lost the client who badmouthed me to all her neighbors in paramus. dont just vet on a small bed, make em demo a sloped section with at least 10% grade to see if they actually get retention. and get everything in writing, including who supplies the cubic yards calculation. i use a simple app like jobber to track subs' work history, keeps the BS out. ive seen guys get buried in callbacks from washing mulch, and it aint worth the quick cash. stick to your contracts or youll be the one holding the bag every storm season.

SprayTanSavant⭐ Expert5d

man, north jersey slopes are a nightmare for runoff, been there with my sod crews.

RooferRookie🔧 Apprentice5d

stick to detailed bids per yard, i always quote $45 per cubic yard for mulch installs and it keeps subs honest. include photos in the contract too.

OddJobOtto4⚒️ Journeyman2d

man, i tried quoting $40 per yard last season and these subs still tried to short me on the install, had to chase one down for an extra 500 bucks. photos in the contract aint worth shit if they ghost you after.