Mulch Mulch Planner Guides
Plain-English guides and free calculators to help you buy the right amount of mulch, soil and edging material — with the math shown, so you can check every number. Start with the mulch calculator or browse by topic.
CalculatorsCoverage & quantitiesBuying guidesMulching basicsProblems & fixes
Calculators
Free calculators for mulch, soil and tree rings.
- Tree Ring Mulch CalculatorCalculators
Calculate how much mulch you need around a tree: enter ring and trunk diameter to get cubic feet, yards and bags, following the 3-3-3 rule.
- Playground Mulch CalculatorCalculators
How much mulch does a playground need? Calculator with the 6 ft safety zone and 12-inch initial fill (9 in minimum), in cubic yards and bags.
- Topsoil CalculatorCalculators
Free topsoil calculator: enter length, width and depth to get cubic feet, cubic yards and bags of soil (0.75, 1, 1.5 or 2 cu ft), with a per-100 sq ft chart.
Coverage & quantities
How far a bag or a yard goes, and how much you need for any bed.
- How Much Does a Bag of Mulch Cover?Coverage & quantities
A 2 cu ft bag of mulch covers 12 sq ft at 2 inches or 8 sq ft at 3 inches. See the full coverage chart for 1.5, 2 and 3 cu ft bags.
- How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Cover?Coverage & quantities
One cubic yard of mulch covers 324 sq ft at 1 inch, 162 sq ft at 2 inches, 108 sq ft at 3 inches and 81 sq ft at 4 inches. Full chart and bags per yard.
- How Many Bags of Mulch Are in a Yard?Coverage & quantities
A cubic yard of mulch is 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft, 9 bags of 3 cu ft or 18 of 1.5 cu ft. Yards-to-bags chart and how far 10, 20 or 50 bags go.
- How Much Mulch Do I Need for 100 to 1,000 sq ft?Coverage & quantities
Cubic yards and bags of mulch for 100, 200, 300, 500 and 1,000 sq ft beds at 2 and 3 inches deep, plus how to measure irregular beds.
- How to Calculate How Much Mulch You NeedCoverage & quantities
Step-by-step mulch formula: square feet × inches ÷ 324 = cubic yards. Area formulas for L-shaped, curvy, oval and round beds, with a worked example.
Buying guides
Types of mulch, bags or bulk, and the tools that make the job easier.
- Bagged vs Bulk Mulch: Which Is Cheaper?Buying guides
Is bulk mulch cheaper than bags? 1 cubic yard equals 13.5 bags of 2 cu ft. Use this simple break-even formula with your local prices.
- Mulching Tools ChecklistBuying guides
The tools that make spreading mulch faster: wheelbarrow, mulch fork, bow rake, edger and more, with what to look for and how many loads to expect.
- Types of Mulch ComparedBuying guides
Different types of mulch compared: shredded bark, wood chips, pine needles, straw, grass clippings, leaves, compost, rock and rubber, with depth and pros and cons.
Mulching basics
Depth, timing and technique for healthy beds and trees.
- How Deep Should Mulch Be?Mulching basics
Experts recommend 2-4 inches of mulch. Learn the right depth for beds and trees, the 3-3-3 rule and how to avoid mulch volcanoes.
- When Should You Mulch?Mulching basics
Spring or fall? When to mulch beds, when to add winter mulch (when the ground is about to freeze) and a simple mulching calendar, with extension sources.
- Using Grass Clippings as MulchMulching basics
Can you use grass clippings as mulch? Yes: apply thin layers up to 1/4 inch, let each dry, and never use clippings from lawns treated with herbicide in the past month.
- How to Use Cardboard as Mulch (Sheet Mulching)Mulching basics
How to use cardboard as mulch: plain brown corrugated cardboard, tape removed, 4-6 wet overlapping layers, topped with compost and mulch. Steps from OSU Extension.
- Straw Mulch for the Vegetable GardenMulching basics
How to use straw mulch in a vegetable garden: 3-4 inches deep, weed-free straw only, watch for herbicide carryover, and how much straw you need per bed.
Problems & fixes
Holes, molds and other surprises in mulch beds — what they are and what to do.
- What Is Making Holes in My Mulch?Problems & fixes
Small holes in your mulch bed? Identify the culprit by hole size: earthworms, bees, cicada killers, voles, chipmunks, squirrels or skunks, and what to do.
- White (or Yellow) Stuff in Your Mulch: What It IsProblems & fixes
Found white, yellow or foamy stuff in your mulch? Slime mold, bird's nest fungi, artillery fungus and mushrooms explained, with what to do, per UMass Extension.
- How to Use Mulch to Prevent WeedsProblems & fixes
Does mulch stop weeds? It suppresses annual weeds by blocking light at 2-4 inches; perennial weeds must be removed first. Depth, fabric and upkeep explained.