The two-minute math that keeps you from buying twice or burying your beds.
Square feet x depth in inches / 324 = cubic yards. The 324 comes from a cubic yard being 27 cubic feet, and 27 x 12 inches = 324 square-foot-inches. Measure length x width for each bed, add them up, and run the math.
| Bed area | At 2 inches | At 3 inches |
|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.62 yd | 0.93 yd |
| 200 sq ft | 1.23 yd | 1.85 yd |
| 300 sq ft | 1.85 yd | 2.78 yd |
| 500 sq ft | 3.09 yd | 4.63 yd |
| 1,000 sq ft | 6.17 yd | 9.26 yd |
2 to 3 inches. Less than 2 stops suppressing weeds; more than 3 or 4 suffocates roots and sheds water. If a healthy inch of old mulch remains, top with an inch or two instead of paying for full depth. And keep mulch pulled back from tree trunks and plant stems: the volcano look invites rot and rodents.
Bagged mulch typically comes in 2-cubic-foot bags, so 13 to 14 bags make one cubic yard. Past about a yard and a half, bulk delivery is almost always cheaper. Past the point where you would rather not shovel a driveway pile all weekend, there is our mulch and river rock service: we measure, calculate, deliver, and install at proper depth with a fresh cut edge.
Done reading, want it done? See our Mulching / River Rock service.
About 13.5 of the standard 2-cubic-foot bags. If your beds need more than a yard or so, bulk delivery usually beats bags on price.
Only if it is matted, moldy, or already 3+ inches deep. A thin, healthy old layer can be loosened with a rake and topped up, which saves money and material.
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