How to Calculate Bark Dust

There are many benefits to landscaping your garden areas with bark dust or mulch. Not only is it visually attractive, it helps to define garden spaces and serves to keep the garden area moist for your plants. A common mistake homeowners make when purchasing bark mulch is ordering too much or too little to cover the designated areas. Knowing the areas you want to mulch, how deep your mulch should be and how that translates into your mulch order are key to calculating the perfect amount.

Pen
Paper
Calculator
Measuring tape

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the garden area(s) in which you plan to install bark mulch. Measure the length and width in feet. Write down these measurements.
- 2
  Use your calculator to figure out the total area of your garden. Do this by multiplying each garden space's width by its length. For example, if you have three garden beds to cover that measure 12x3=36, 5x5=25 and 18x10=180, add these together for a total area of 241 square feet.
- 3
  Multiply the square footage of your garden by the depth of the bark mulch you wish to use. Typically, homeowners install bark dust in a layer that is between 3 and 5 inches deep. Multiply using the following numbers to represent the depth you choose: .25 for 3 inches; .33 for 4 inches; and .42 for 5 inches. So, if your garden is 241 square feet and you wish to add a 3-inch layer of mulch, multiply 241x.25 for an amount of 60.25 cubic feet of bark mulch. Since most landscaping firms sell their mulch by the yard, however, divide your answer by 27 to calculate the amount you'll need. In this example, you'll need 60.25x27=2.2 yards of mulch.

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