Looking for free fill dirt to kickstart your landscaping or home improvement projects?
You’re in the right place!
In this guide, we’ll show you where to find quality fill dirt near you at no cost.
Being short on cash shouldn’t mean that you have to delay improving your home. Instead, you just need to get creative and source materials for free.
Fill dirt is often essential for projects on your property.
It can be used:
- To raise and level land.
- For packing around retaining walls.
- To fill depressions or holes in the ground.
- For building up ground to fix water drainage issues.
- Or to otherwise artificially change the grade or elevation of a property.
Fill dirt is much more robust and stable than topsoil. This is because it contains more rocks, stones, and dense earth that are ideal for filling holes.
It’s not as fine or pure as topsoil either and it has little organic matter or biological activity. That’s why you need topsoil as well as compost if you’re looking to grow stuff like vegetables, plants, and flowers.
Fill dirt is the layer beneath the topsoil in a garden or landscape.
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Where Can I Get Free Fill Dirt Near Me?
Parting with your hard-earned cash is not a requirement to spruce up your land.
Instead, you can use the 9 tips we’ve listed below to get free fill dirt near you. You don’t have to spend a penny!
1. FillDirt.org
Find fill dirt near you at FillDirt.org. The site connects people who have dirt with people who need dirt. Use the site to get excess dirt for free or to get quotes from dirt suppliers (so some of the dirt is free, but not all of it).
Handily enough, FillDirt.org lists dirt suppliers in different states. Scroll to find your state and get fill dirt near you.
2. Craigslist
Craigslist has almost everything you can think of for free – mulch, compost, planters, furniture, and fill dirt of course!
Some construction and hauling companies and many individuals list their unwanted fill dirt on Craigslist. They will provide it for free – often it’s free as long as you’re willing to pick it up.
Navigate on over to the “Free” section of your city’s Craigslist. This can be found under the “For Sale” section. Click this and you’ll be taken to the section for free stuff. There you’ll find people listing their free stuff. This could include fill dirt. Just type in “fill dirt” in the search bar to get the results you want.
There’s not always someone giving away free fill dirt on Craigslist. It’s still worth a look though.
3. Local construction sites
Often a lot of construction sites dig out dirt when they begin building the structure they’ve been hired to build. This means that a lot of construction sites end up with a ton of dirt they need to get rid of.
It’s likely you have some construction going on somewhere in your town at any given time. Just head on over to a local construction site and ask if you can have any dirt for free.
They won’t always have it available. They may already have a means for getting rid of the dirt or even selling it. It’s still worth asking though.
4. Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace always comes through when you need to find something for free near you.
People give away everything from bedroom furniture to party dresses on there. Have a search on Facebook Marketplace for free fill dirt.
5. DirtFill.com
Since 1986, DirtFill.com has been connecting people with excess fill dirt with those who require it.
Register on the site – it’s free – and then you can find free fill dirt nearby. You can make arrangements regarding things like timing, delivery, and prices directly with other members.
Although some contractors deliver fill dirt for free, others may deliver it for a fee.
6. Local government fill dirt programs
Your city or county may have programs where they give away fill dirt at no cost. Search online for programs or get in touch with your local city or county.
7. Swimming pool builders
Since swimming pool builders dig out a lot of land. That means that they wind up with a bunch of dirt. They need to get rid of this dirt somehow, meaning they may give it away to you for free!
Get in touch with some local swimming pool building companies to ask if they have any fill dirt available.
Dig In and Save: Your Landscaping Just Got Cheaper!
For outdoor projects, fill dirt can be such a useful material. Don’t spend your hard-earned cash on it though. Get it for free instead by using the tips on our list.
You can make your yard or garden look great without spending money.
