How much mulch you actually need

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1The actual formula

One cubic yard of mulch covers 324 square feet at 1 inch deep, or 108 square feet at 3 inches deep. Multiply your area by the depth you want, then divide by 324, and that's your cubic yards.

2Two to three inches, not more

That's the working depth for organic mulch: enough to hold moisture and choke weeds without smothering the soil underneath. More isn't better here, it's just more.

3Never touch the trunk

Mulch piled against bark (the 'mulch volcano') holds moisture against the trunk and invites rot, insects and rodents that would otherwise leave a dry trunk alone. Keep it a few inches back from any stem, tapering down like a doughnut, not a cone.

4What it's actually doing for you

Beyond looking finished, mulch holds soil moisture longer between waterings, keeps weed seeds from germinating in bare sunlit soil, moderates soil temperature swings, and slows erosion on a slope by softening the impact of every raindrop.

5Bagged or bulk

Bagged mulch (usually 2 cubic feet a bag) is easier for a small bed and a car trunk; bulk by the cubic yard from a landscape yard is cheaper per square foot once you're covering more than a few beds, but you'll want a truck or a delivery fee.

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