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"Mulch!" "Okay, How much mulch do I need?" "How thick should I lay mulch on the ground?" "Why should I buy mulch?"

No worries, here is a simple method to help you determine your mulching needs and explains it's advantages.

Mulch is a great four in one tool for any type of flower or shrubbery bed. Mulching looks good as a decoration, prevents weeds, retains moister, and provides a natural fertilizer for your plants.

Look at the area you are considering to mulch and measure the width and length. When you measure always round to the next highest foot.

Example: 4 feet 3 inches rounded to the next highest foot is 5 feet.

Now, Don't Panic! You may need a calculator for this next step.

Garden centers sell mulch bags in cubic feet. Simply because not only is there a width and length involved in the measurement but also a certain depth (thickness) you must lay the mulch in your flower or shrubbery bed.

Flowerbeds should have a two-inch thick bed of mulch and shrubbery beds will need a four-inch thick bed of mulch.

Lets say your flowerbed is 4 feet wide and 6 feet long. Remember you need 2-inch thickness for flowerbeds.

To determine how many cubic feet of mulch you need you will have to multiply:
4 feet x 6 feet x 0.17.

The 0.17 is a decimal equivalency of 2 inches of one foot. (12 inches)
2 divided by 12 = 0.166666667 Rounded to 0.17.

Example: 4 feet wide x 6 feet long x 2-inch depth (thickness)
4 feet x 6 feet = 24 square feet
24 square feet x 0.17 = 4.08 cubic feet Round your answer to 4 cubic feet.
More simply written,
4 x 6 = 24
24 x 0.17 = 4.08 (4 cubic feet)

For shrubbery beds or any other type of bedding requiring a 4 inch thickness use decimal equivalency 0.333.

The 0.333 is a decimal equivalency of 4-inches of one foot (12 inches)
4 divided by 12 = 0.333333333 Shortened to 0.333.

Example: 3 feet wide x 9 feet long x 4 inch depth (thickness)
3 feet x 9 feet = 27 square feet
27 square feet x 0.333 = 8.991 cubic feet Round your answer to 9 cubic feet.
More simply written,
3 x 9 = 27
27 x 0.333 = 8.991 (9 cubic feet)

Now you can confidently calculate your mulching needs for any project.

Learn more about this author, Roger Penny.
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