How Much Mulch Do I Need? A Simple Guide for Homeowners

Mulch makes a landscape look cleaner, holds soil moisture, cuts weeds, and protects roots from temperature swings — but first, how much do you actually need? Order too little and you're making a second trip; too much and there's a pile left in the driveway. Mulch is easy to estimate once you know your beds' square footage and the depth you want. Here's how to measure, calculate, and plan a bulk order for Farmington and St. Francois County.

Start by measuring your beds

No fancy tools — a tape measure and notepad. Rectangles: Length × Width = square feet (a 20 ft × 5 ft bed = 100 sq ft). Curved/irregular beds: break them into rectangles, triangles, and half-circles, measure each, and add them up. Mulch doesn't need survey precision — close and practical beats overcomplicated.

What depth should mulch be?

Aim for 2–3 inches. Refreshing a bed that still has material? 1–2 inches. Bare soil? 3 inches. Don't pile mulch against trunks or stems ("volcano mulching") — it traps moisture, invites rot and pests. Keep mulch a few inches off trunks while covering the surrounding soil.

How to calculate by the cubic yard

Flexible formula: square feet × depth(inches) ÷ 324 = cubic yards. Example: 450 sq ft at 3" → 450 × 3 ÷ 324 = 4.17 → order ~4–4.5 yards.

Worked example: front-yard refresh
Foundation bed 30×5 = 150 · mailbox bed 8×6 = 48 · tree ring ≈ 50 → 248 sq ft. At 3": 248 ÷ 100 ≈ 2.5 cubic yards (round to 3 for thin spots and touch-ups).

Bulk by the yard vs. bagged

Bagged: fine for small touch-ups and tight spaces, but big projects mean lots of bags, more handling, plastic waste, and often more cost per amount.Bulk by the cubic yard: better for larger beds, full refreshes, and cleanups — one pile to spread from, loaded for pickup or delivered locally.

How big is a cubic yard, really?

3 ft × 3 ft × 3 ft = 27 cubic feet. It arrives as a loose pile, not a cube. Pick a drop spot that's truck-accessible, clear of vehicles and low branches, on a solid surface, close to the beds, away from drainage, and not blocking a road or shared drive.

Spreading mulch evenly

Pull weeds → edge the beds → remove excess old mulch if too deep → move small loads by wheelbarrow → dump small piles → spread with a rake to 2–3" → pull back from trunks, siding, and posts → water lightly to settle. Landscape fabric under organic mulch often isn't worth it (mulch breaks down on top and weeds still grow); proper depth + maintenance is more practical.

Get mulch from RLES

RLES supplies mulch by the cubic yard with pickup or local delivery across Farmington and St. Francois County. Ordered to order, no online checkout — call or stop by: 6809 Highway 32, Farmington, MO 63640 · (573) 955-0080.

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