Mulch, measured.
Guides on the math, the depth, and the buying decisions for mulch.
Guides on mulching, written from the ground up — measure, calculate, decide bulk versus bagged, and figure out how often you’ll need to refresh. Every number on this page is checked against a formula, a Home Depot price, or a university extension publication.
The mulch library.
How to Calculate How Much Mulch You Need
The full method — measure, convert, add overage — worked out on a real 12 × 4 ft flower bed.
How to Spread Mulch, Step by Step
Weed, water, rake it out to 2–3″, then pull it back off every trunk — plus the six mistakes that cost people trees.
How Deep Should Mulch Be?
Most beds want 2–4″ with 3″ as the safe default — but clay soil, fine mulch, and tree trunks all move the number.
When to Mulch: Watch the Soil, Not the Calendar
Spring before 50°F for weeds, after it for plants. Fall before the freeze for trees, after it for perennials — one real year of soil data shows the gap is two months.
Types of Mulch: Which One Belongs in Your Yard?
Four families, not one long list. Wood and bark for most yards, straw for vegetables — and the two popular choices the extensions tell you to skip.
Bulk vs. Bagged Mulch: Which Should You Buy?
Bulk runs about 35% cheaper per cubic yard — before delivery. Where the crossover happens at 2026 US pricing.
How Much Does a Yard of Mulch Cover?
324 sq ft at 1″, 108 sq ft at 3″, 81 sq ft at 4″. With a conversion table for every common depth.
How Many Bags of Mulch in a Cubic Yard?
13.5 bags of 2 cu ft — and why the half-bag is the reason every calculator here defaults to +10% overage.
How Long Does Mulch Last?
Undyed hardwood: 2–3 seasons. Dyed black: 12 months of color, same decay rate. Pine bark nuggets outlast them all.
Mulch vs. Rock: Which Is Better for Your Yard?
Rock is cheaper over 10 years. Mulch is better for plants. The honest trade-off at the three-, five- and ten-year mark.