Inside reclaimed wood
Mulch that used to hold up a pallet of groceries
The last stop in a pallet's life: hammer-milled, screened, dyed with iron-oxide and carbon pigments, and sold by the cubic yard across the Denver metro.
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RePallet Co. produces colored landscape mulch, playground fibre and animal bedding from pallet wood that can no longer be repaired or reused. Available in natural, brown, black and cedar-red, sold by the cubic yard, collected or delivered.
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches deep. Delivery across the Denver metro starts at 4 cubic yards.
Grades and colours
| Product | Screen | Colour | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural landscape mulch | 3/4" minus | Untreated, greys naturally | Beds, borders, tree rings |
| Brown mulch | 3/4" minus | Iron-oxide pigment | The Front Range default |
| Black mulch | 3/4" minus | Carbon pigment | High-contrast planting schemes |
| Cedar-red mulch | 3/4" minus | Iron-oxide pigment | Xeriscape and rock gardens |
| Playground fibre | 1/2" minus, fines removed | Natural | Play surfacing, IPEMA-style spec |
| Animal bedding | 1/4" minus, dust-extracted | Natural | Stables, kennels, poultry |
| Path fines | Screened fines | Natural | Informal paths, compost carbon |
On pigments: the dyes are iron-oxide and carbon-based colourants used throughout the US landscape industry. They are not solvent-based, and they do not contain the chromated copper arsenate associated with old CCA-treated timber — which we exclude from the feedstock entirely.
What goes into it, and what does not
Mulch quality is decided at the intake gate, not at the grinder. We are strict about feedstock because pallet-derived mulch has a poor reputation in some markets, earned by operators who grind whatever arrives.
- In: untreated and heat-treated pallet lumber that failed the repair line.
- In: clean crating, dunnage and off-cuts from our own workshop.
- Out: anything stamped MB (methyl bromide fumigated).
- Out: CCA-treated, creosoted or painted timber of any kind.
- Out: any load with a chemical contamination history.
- Out: plywood, OSB and particleboard — the adhesives do not belong in a garden bed.
- Removed: all ferrous metal, via overhead magnet, before and after grinding.
How much you need
| Depth | Coverage per cubic yard | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 1" | 324 sq ft | Top-dressing an existing bed |
| 2" | 162 sq ft | Annual beds, light weed suppression |
| 3" | 108 sq ft | Standard landscape depth |
| 4" | 81 sq ft | Weed suppression, moisture retention |
| 6" | 54 sq ft | Playground fall zones |
A quick rule for Colorado: 3 inches in shaded beds, 4 inches in full sun on the south side of a building. Our summer dries mulch out faster than the coverage charts written for the midwest assume.
Application, depth and maintenance
| Situation | Depth | Coverage per yd³ | Refresh |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annual beds | 2" | 162 sq ft | Annually |
| Perennial beds, shade | 3" | 108 sq ft | Every 2 years |
| Perennial beds, full sun | 4" | 81 sq ft | Every 2 years |
| Tree rings | 3" – 4" | 81 – 108 sq ft | Every 2 years |
| Slopes | 3" | 108 sq ft | Annually; use coarse screen |
| Paths | 2" – 3" | 108 – 162 sq ft | Annually |
| Playground fall zones | 6" – 12" | 27 – 54 sq ft | Top up annually |
| Weed suppression | 4" | 81 sq ft | Every 2 years |
- Keep it 3" clear of stems and trunks. Mulch piled against bark traps moisture and causes rot.
- Do not lay on dry soil. Water first — mulch slows evaporation but it also slows infiltration.
- Rake to break the crust once a season; a matted surface sheds water rather than admitting it.
- Top up rather than replace. The bottom layer is breaking down into soil, which is the point.
- Coarse screen on slopes and exposed sites. Fine mulch migrates in Front Range wind.
- Natural grade for vegetable beds. The pigments are inert, but there is no reason to add them to food-growing soil.
How pallet mulch compares with the alternatives
| Type | Price / yd³ | Longevity | Wind resistance | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pallet mulch, natural | $19 – $22 | 1 – 2 years | Good | Greys naturally |
| Pallet mulch, coloured | $24 – $28 | 2 – 3 years | Good | Pigment slows breakdown |
| Shredded cedar | $38 – $52 | 2 – 3 years | Best | Aromatic; pest deterrent |
| Bark nuggets | $34 – $46 | 3 – 4 years | Poor | Floats and migrates |
| Wood chips, arborist | $0 – $14 | 1 year | Good | Variable; may contain weed seed |
| Rubber mulch | $85 – $130 | 10+ years | Good | Does not feed soil; heat retention |
| Rock / gravel | $55 – $95 | Indefinite | Best | Raises soil temperature substantially |
The honest comparison against rock: in a xeriscape, gravel lasts forever and never needs replacing, but it raises soil temperature and does nothing for soil biology. Organic mulch breaks down — which is a cost and also the entire point. Many Front Range gardens want both, in different beds.
Questions people actually ask
Is pallet mulch safe around vegetables?
Our natural and playground grades are, because the feedstock excludes treated and painted timber. For edible beds we would still suggest the natural grade over a dyed one, simply because there is no reason to add pigment to a vegetable patch.
Will it blow away?
Less than bark nugget and more than a heavy compost. At 3 inches it stays put in most Front Range wind. On exposed sites, a coarser screen holds better.
Do you deliver?
Across the Denver metro from 4 cubic yards up. Further out it depends on whether a trailer is already running your way that week — ask and we will tell you honestly.
How is this recycling if it ends up in a garden?
It is recovery rather than recycling, and it sits near the bottom of the hierarchy for exactly that reason. Only about 3% of the wood entering our yard ends up here — the rest is repaired or reused first.
Does coloured mulch fade?
Yes, over two to three seasons, more slowly than uncoloured wood greys. Iron-oxide browns and reds hold better than carbon blacks in Colorado's UV.
Will mulch attract termites?
Wood mulch does not attract termites to a property, though it can provide cover once they are present. Keeping mulch clear of foundations and wooden structures is sensible practice regardless of the material.
Can I use it on a vegetable garden?
Natural grade, yes, and it works well on paths between beds. We would not use a pigmented grade on food-growing soil — the pigments are inert, but there is no benefit to offset even a small unknown.
How much do I need for a standard bed?
One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches. Measure the bed, divide by 100, multiply by the depth factor, and add 15% for settling.
Do you deliver and spread?
We deliver across the metro from four cubic yards. We do not spread — that is a landscaper's job and there are several we would happily recommend.
Let's keep your pallets in the loop
Whether you have 40 broken cores behind the dock or need 4,000 Grade A pallets a month, the conversation starts the same way.