By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Marlborough??”After the harsh winter, homeowners may be glad to get outside, and CMS, Inc., can help with those lawn and garden projects.
The Marlborough company offers a wide range of bulk landscaping materials, including topsoil, compost, and five varieties of bark mulch. Stone, crushed stone and gravel, in assorted colors and sizes, are also available.
CMS urges homeowners to come and take a look at the options for individual projects. The display yard is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's closed Sundays.
“Come on out. We'sl give you a map and you can take your time looking around,” said Patrick Mauro, president of the construction materials and services company his father, David, started in 1965 and incorporated in 1977. “Homeowners are our biggest customers in this part of our business. They call when they start to spruce up their yards.”
Not sure how much mulch or stone is needed for a project? CMS has a handy calculator on its website, www.cmsinc-ma.com, to answer that question. To use the calculator, enter the area and the depth of product desired, and it will specify the quantity of material needed. The calculator works for all products, not just mulch.
The company will deliver an order, or a customer can pick up the product at CMS.
“People can come and pick up what they want if they have a pickup truck because it's easier to back up to the bed and shovel mulch out. But we also deliver, and for the most part, we can do same-day deliveries.
“During the busy season, these next few weeks, it's better to call during the week and schedule a delivery. We have trucks that can handle from one ton all the way up to 30 tons.”
Mulch is a strong seller this time of year, and CMS offers black, brown, red, hemlock and premium varieties. Hemlock is the most popular, Mauro said, but black mulch is a close second.
“Landscape architects tend to like the black mulch because flowers look brighter against that background.”
Homeowners today frequently are adding outdoor living areas, he noted, and colored stone can provide an interesting accent. Colored stone can also substitute for mulch, particularly near the walls of a house, and can provide a base for the popular fire pits in backyards.
“Stone is more expensive initially, but it is permanent. Just blow leaves and debris off of it.”
Mauro is also an enthusiastic supporter of the Antique Truck Club of New England and its annual antique truck show. He and his father have been involved with the show since 1995, and other CMS employees are also active in the club.
This year, the show will be at the Bolton Fairgrounds on Route 117 in Lancaster, having outgrown its former location in Hudson.
The show is scheduled for Sunday, July 13, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine, and is expected to feature about 400 trucks, both antiques and modern models. Past shows have included everything from giant Mack trucks and new Kenworths to a Ford Model A pickup.
Admission to the show is $5 per person, with kids 12 and under free. “All the gate proceeds go to charity,” Mauro said. There will be games and a bounce house for the kids, food, and plenty of parking.
Show organizers are never quite sure how many trucks will be there; there's no pre-registration. The event is open to club members and non-members. Truck owners pay a $10 fee to show off their truck, with that fee used towards the event expenses.
CMS is located at 379 South St. in Marlborough.? For additional information, see the website, www.cmsinc-ma.com, or call 508-481-0011.
Editor's Note: The preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.
