# Gas stations as mulch sellers **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119 "2004-07-21T02:37:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![gardinladi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ebca7d/32.png) [@gardinladi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gardinladi)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/1 "2004-07-21T02:37:42Z")
This is my first post ever, so forgive me if I mess up, but every summer this question has bothered me: Why do gas stations sell mulch? I can see why they sell drinks and snacks and air fresheners, but why do huge pallets of bark mulch for sale surround every corner gas station like some fortification? Why not leave the sales of mulch to Home Depot or the local garden center? ---
**Author:** ![Tuckerfan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@Tuckerfan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tuckerfan)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/2 "2004-07-21T02:50:48Z")
To lure people in who realize they forgot to pick up a bag when they were at Home Depot/Lowe’s, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Chairman\_Pow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Chairman\_Pow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chairman_Pow)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2004, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/3 "2004-07-21T03:27:48Z")
In my experience the mulch they sell is fairly overpriced and something of an impulse buy (if something that weighs 20 lbs can be an impulse buy). Of course, it’s really no skin off their teeth as they can throw it in a corner of the parking lot and it’s not like it costs too much to begin with (IIRC, the local hardware store sells mulch for something like $2.50/lb. 40 lbs of cow shit is even cheaper). ---
**Author:** ![Flocker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/ccd318/32.png) [@Flocker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flocker)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/4 "2018-04-30T15:49:33Z")
> [@gardinladi](#): > > This is my first post ever, so forgive me if I mess up, but every summer this question has bothered me: > > Why do gas stations sell mulch? I can see why they sell drinks and snacks and air fresheners, but why do huge pallets of bark mulch for sale surround every corner gas station like some fortification? Why not leave the sales of mulch to Home Depot or the local garden center? Why do you care if they sell some seasonal Mulch to make some extra money? Are you in that much of a hurry to get your lottery tickets, and your BIG DRINK? Why not just leave people alone, and not try to control everything. You must want a special convenience store, just set up perfect for you. It doesn’t work that way. People like you cause grief for all of us. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/5 "2018-04-30T15:55:19Z")
> [@Flocker](#): > > Why do you care if they sell some seasonal Mulch to make some extra money? Are you in that much of a hurry to get your lottery tickets, and your BIG DRINK? Why not just leave people alone, and not try to control everything. You must want a special convenience store, just set up perfect for you. It doesn’t work that way. People like you cause grief for all of us. I think we managed this control freak pretty well for 14 years. But thanks for bringing it up again and giving him/her a hard time once again. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/6 "2018-04-30T16:18:17Z")
> [@Procrustus](#): > > I think we managed this control freak pretty well for 14 years. But thanks for bringing it up again and giving him/her a hard time once again. And this is only **Flocker** ’s 3rd post, the other two being in 2016 when he bumped an eight year old thread about Linda Hamilton’s looks. I don’t think he gets how this whole message board thing works. ---
**Author:** ![burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/burpo_the_wonder_mutt/32/365_2.png) [@burpo\_the\_wonder\_mutt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/burpo_the_wonder_mutt)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/7 "2018-04-30T16:24:03Z")
Would this be a good place for a zombie joke? ---
**Author:** ![Rebo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rebo/32/13005_2.png) [@Rebo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rebo)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/8 "2018-04-30T16:29:47Z")
Why, yes - yes it would… Have you got one? ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 30, 2018, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gas-stations-as-mulch-sellers/256119/9 "2018-04-30T16:36:29Z")
> [@Flocker](#): > > Why do you care if they sell some seasonal Mulch to make some extra money? Are you in that much of a hurry to get your lottery tickets, and your BIG DRINK? Why not just leave people alone, and not try to control everything. You must want a special convenience store, just set up perfect for you. It doesn’t work that way. People like you cause grief for all of us. **Moderator Note** **Flocker** , we prefer that old threads in General Questions only be bumped to provide new factual information. Since this does not, and you are replying to a post from 14 years ago (and the OP has not been back since), I am closing this. Colibri General Questions Moderator