Beginning today, area gardeners will have a chance to purchase cheap mulch from the city’s forestry division.

The city will conduct its annual mulch sale from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today and Friday at the city’s compost facility, 1420 E. 11th St. The sale will continue from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday.

Area residents will be able to purchase a pickup load of mulch for $5. The mulch is made from trees and brush set out by city residents throughout the year and picked up by the city’s sanitation crews.

Members of the city’s forestry division encourage people to use mulch around their newly planted trees to better trap moisture. It also is useful in preventing excess runoff, restricting weed growth and replacing nutrients in soil.