YardBatch field guide

Questions to ask before a landscape material delivery

A complete quote includes the product, the purchase quantity, and how it reaches your yard.

YardBatch · Published September 25, 2026

Before scheduling a delivery, turn your calculator result into a short written order. Keep the exact product name beside the quantity and unit. “Two yards of material” is less useful than a product-specific order that both you and the supplier can confirm.

Clarify how the material is sold

• Is the price per cubic yard, per US short ton, or per bag?
• What is the minimum order?
• Can quantities be purchased in quarter-yard, half-yard, or another increment?
• Does a mixed-material order change the delivery fee or require separate loads?
• Are taxes or other fees included in the quoted total?

Enter the actual increment, minimum, and delivery fee in the calculator. If the supplier bills by weight, first confirm the appropriate conversion and whether the quoted total depends on a scale ticket.

Discuss access before choosing a drop point

Tell the supplier about gates, narrow entrances, slopes, overhead obstructions, and the surface where you hope to receive the load. Ask the supplier to determine whether its vehicle can access that location. A spot that looks convenient for a wheelbarrow may not be suitable for a delivery truck.

Do not promise access based on a photograph alone. Ask what clearances or preparation the supplier needs and how the driver handles an unsuitable drop point.

Plan the work after unloading

Consider how far the material must travel from the delivery pile to each bed. Measure gates and tight turns along that route. A short direct route can reduce handling, but access and site constraints come first. Ask whether a ground cover or other preparation is suitable for the product and unloading method.

Confirm arrival and order details

Keep the delivery window, contact method, product name, unit quantity, quoted charges, and location instructions together. Ask how substitutions or quantity changes will be handled. On arrival, compare the paperwork with your order and resolve product differences with the supplier before proceeding.

Use the comparison as a decision aid

The cheapest receipt is not necessarily the easiest job. Bagged products may let you stage material close to separate beds; bulk delivery changes how and where you handle it. YardBatch compares material totals and one bulk delivery fee. Your final choice should also include the actual access and handling work.

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