How Much Will a Yard of Mulch Cover?

Compost makes an effective mulch.

Organic mulch, which is made of plant material, may include bark, wood chips, peat moss, pine needles and straw. Mulch is generally applied after planting flowers or shrubs, or---for established plants---in the spring after the soil has warmed.

The Facts

At a standard depth of 4 inches, a yard of mulch will cover just over 80 square feet. A yard of mulch is 3 feet by 3 feet by 3 feet, or 27 cubic feet.

An Example

To figure out how much mulch you need for a specific space, measure the space, find the area and decide how thick you want to apply the mulch. Let's say you have a flower bed 12 feet by 13 feet and you want to apply a two-inch layer of mulch. You find the area by multiplying the length and width: 12 feet x 13 feet = 156 square feet. Then convert the depth of mulch into feet. Two inches equals about 0.17 of a foot. You then multiply 156 square feet times 0.17 foot to get 26.52 cubic feet.

Consideration

Minimize the chances of stem or trunk rot by keeping mulch a few inches away from plant stems and tree trunks. This means you will need slightly less mulch than calculated above.

References

• University of Florida: Mulches for the Landscape
• Ohio State University Extension: Mulching Landscape Plants
• University of Illinois: Measuring Bark Mulch Requirements