Just when the original mulch mountain was starting to look less mountainous, along came its successor: Mulch Mountain II.

I drove by a tree trimmer doing work in the neighborhood and stopped to see if he wanted to get rid of a few chips. Soon after, this is what happened:

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“It’s a LOT,” he said. “Are you sure you want it?”

I was sure.

“It’s a whole lot.”

After much reassuring I knew what I was in for, the driver emptied out the truck.

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Before he left, I told him there was room for one more load if he had it, so there may be MMIII.

BUT:

There is a problem, a suburban problem.

It smells.

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I had this issue with MMI, so I knew to expect it, but it does bear discussion.  The smell changes over time, but right now, a couple of days in, it has a sickly sweet and pervasive odor which, depending on the way the wind is blowing, can carry pretty far.  Neighbors or passersby might connect the smell to the chickens which of course is erroneous, but understandable.

The mulch pile isn’t visible from the road and plus, who knows what a decomposing pile of wood chips smells like? I didn’t have any idea myself before I had my own mountains of mulch.

As I remember from the first time, this lasts a couple of weeks.  There’s a quick build up at the beginning where it is stankEE. Then the level of phew gradually goes down until you have to be digging in it to smell it. It never gets so bad I can’t stand to be in the yard, however.

I’ve thought of putting a tarp over it, but I’m not sure that would help, and it might prolong the problem.

Suggestions are welcome.