Landscaping usually needs a dumpster because a yard redo makes two kinds of waste, light brush and heavy soil or pavers, and each one goes in its own size. Pull out overgrown shrubs, tear up an old bed and lift a paver walkway, and you have a pile of root balls, old mulch, broken pavers and dirt in the driveway.
With a roll-off on the driveway, you have one place to put the landscaping debris, so you aren't filling a truck bed over and over. We're a family business on James Island offering local roll-off dumpster rental, and Tony does every delivery and pickup himself.
What two kinds of waste does yard work make?
Plant material is light and bulky. Brush, branches, leaves, pulled shrubs and dead plants take up a lot of room for their weight, so you plan that part of the landscaping job by space. A big trim or a few beds of shrubs fits the 13-yard dumpster, which includes 1 ton and 5 days. A full yard reset with long hedge rows and several trees coming down calls for the 17-yard dumpster or the 22.
Soil and hardscape are the opposite. Dirt, old concrete, brick and concrete pavers take up little room but weigh a lot. If the landscaping plan means digging out a paver patio, breaking up a concrete walkway or hauling off fill dirt, that material goes in the 7-yard dumpster for concrete and dirt, the size for heavy clean loads.
In what order should a landscaping job go?
Work from the top of the yard down. Prune trees and cut back shrubs first, so branches fall onto ground you haven't cleared yet. Pull the dead plants, old shrubs and weeds next. Lift the hardscape after the plants are out: pavers, edging, walkways and any concrete. Grade and dig last, once the surface is bare.
That order splits the debris into two loads. The plant material comes out first, and the soil and hardscape come out second. Tony can bring the 7-yard and a 13 at the same time if you have room for both, so tell us when you book. You can also book the plant dumpster first and then book the 7-yard as a second rental once the hardscape is ready to lift.
How do you keep the soil and paver load clean?
Clean concrete and dirt go to a recycle plant. They carry no overweight charge, and you can fill the 7-yard to the rim with them. If roots, brush, wood or trash get mixed in, the load goes to the landfill and is charged by weight. Tony tells customers this at drop-off, so you know before the first shovelful goes in.
On a landscaping job, do these things to keep the load clean. Shake or knock the dirt off root balls into the soil pile, and put the roots in the other dumpster. Pull landscape fabric, plastic edging and stray mulch out of the paver pile before it goes in. If a gravel or sand base sits under the pavers, ask about it when you book. If old sod is coming up, tell us about the sod when you book as well, since it has roots and soil together.
How do common yard projects size up?
Pulling out old beds and shrubs. Overgrown foundation plantings, dead palms and old hedge rows come out as bulky plant material plus root balls. Plan for the 13, or the 17 if the beds run around the house.
Tearing out a patio or walkway. Old concrete, concrete pavers and brick are heavy. They go in the 7-yard as a clean load.
Regrading a yard. Old fill dirt and clay are dense, and the weight adds up quickly. That dirt goes in the 7-yard.
A full reset before new grass. Edging every bed, cutting everything back and pulling old plants makes a large pile of brush. Plan room in a 17 or 22 for the plant material, and tell us about any sod.
If you want to compare capacities side by side, our dumpster size guide lists each size and what people use it for.
How do you load brush and roots so more fits?
Cut branches into short lengths and lay them flat across the floor of the dumpster, all facing the same way. Break shrubs apart at the base so the root ball and the top load separately. Put the root balls low, since they carry the most weight, and spread brush and old mulch over them to fill the gaps. Keep the pile level with the top of the dumpster.
What safety steps matter on a landscaping job?
Have buried utility lines marked before you dig out shrubs, posts or old edging. Wear gloves and eye protection when you cut brush, and closed shoes when you break concrete. Lift root balls and paver stacks with your legs, and use a wheelbarrow or a hand truck for anything heavy. Set the dumpster close to the work so each carry is short.
Can curb pickup take some of the yard debris?
For small amounts, yes. The City of Charleston's trash and yard waste collection page lists curb yard waste limits of "4-foot lengths and 4-inch diameter." That suits a weekend of pruning. A bed redo with root balls, pavers and dirt goes faster with a dumpster, because you clear it in one pass.
Charleston County's landfill and garbage page covers yard waste at the Bees Ferry compost facility, if you have a truck and want to take brush there yourself.
A shed cleanout during a landscaping job can turn up old fertilizer and garden chemicals. Tell us what's going in when you book. Charleston County's household hazardous waste program is another place for specialty items.
How long should a landscaping rental run?
A yard redo often spans two weekends: demo the first, plant the second. The 7, 13 and 17 include 5 days. A landscaping rental can run up to 30 days, and longer if you call. Have the dumpster dropped before demo day so the first load of brush goes straight in, and you don't need to be home for the drop.
Where should the dumpster sit for yard work?
Set it close to the beds or the patio you're tearing out, so each wheelbarrow trip is short. A driveway is the usual spot. A side yard can work when the ground is firm and dry and the truck has a clear path in. Tell Tony the location of the beds and the patio when you book, and he'll suggest a spot.
Common questions about landscaping dumpsters
Why do landscaping jobs often need two dumpsters?
Yard work makes two materials. Brush and pulled shrubs are bulky and light, and dirt, brick and old pavers are heavy. The plant material goes in the 13, 17 or 22, and clean soil and pavers go in the 7.
What size fits a full flower bed redo?
It depends on which half is bigger. If you're mostly pulling plants and mulch, a 13 or a 17. If you're digging out soil, that part goes in a 7-yard even though the pile looks small.
Can the dumpster sit on the lawn near the beds?
Sometimes. Firm, dry ground with a clear approach can work. After heavy rain, soft ground can be a problem for the truck, so describe the spot and Tony will tell you what works that day.
Does wet mulch weigh much more than dry?
Yes. Mulch and soil hold a lot of water, so a pile of soaked mulch is heavier than it looks. Give us an idea of how much mulch you're pulling out.
Can old pavers and edging stone go in the 7-yard?
Yes. Concrete pavers, brick and block go in the 7-yard. Keep plants, roots and fabric out of that load so it stays clean.
Ready to start? Text or call (843) 800-0689, or book online.
Need a dumpster in Charleston? Call or text Tony at (843) 800-0689, or order online.
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