Mulch Calculator
Why Do You Need Mulch?
Do you have flowerbeds, trees, shrubs, or a vegetable garden? If so, much can be a great addition to your landscape with the following benefits.
Looks Great!
There's almost nothing else that can be done with as little work and investment that will give a bigger impact to the look of your yard than adding a fresh layer of mulch around flowers, shrubs, or trees. But making your yard look great is not the only benefit to adding mulch.
Keeps Weeds Down
A consistent layer of mulch will help to keep weeds more manageable. Will it prevent all weeds? Not exactly, but it will help. The weeds that do eventually poke through the mulch are fewer than without the mulch and are usually easier to pull out.
Conserves Soil Moisture
Another great benefit of mulch is soil moisture conservation. A layer of mulch will act as a barrier for water evaporating from the soil keeping more moisture in the soil compared to open air soil. This is beneficial by keeping plants hydrated with less watering. Adding mulch to newly planted trees, shrubs, and flowers when they are most vulnerable is especially helpful to those plants.
Improves Soil Quality
In addition to the above benefits some mulch types when properly applied can improve your soil quality. Organic mulches over time will enrich the soil when breaking down by decomposition.
Already know the details on mulch application? Jump to the mulch calculator here:
What Kind Of Mulch Should You Buy?
All types of mulch can look great but which mulch you choose depends if want a ground covering to improve your soil conditions and plants or if you just want a decorative mulch. Organic mulches such as tree bark chips, shredded wood, straw, pine needles, composts, etc. are beneficial for plants and soil while inorganic mulches such as rubber chips, stone/gravel, landscape fabric, glass, etc. are typically used for decorative purposes only. This calculator works for any type of mulch. Whether you need a rubber mulch calculator or a shredded wood calculator, you found the right tool for the job right here.
How Should Mulch Be Applied?
According to Dr. Mary Ann Rose of the Ohio State University Extension department of Horticulture and Crop Science1 the recommended organic mulching depth, depending on the material selected, is 2 to 2.5 inches. Mulching less than this depth will not be effective. Mulch depth of 3 to 6 inches or more can lead to serious problems not allowing soil to dry sufficiently.
How Often Should Mulch Be Applied?
The first mulch application of the season should be done in the spring after the soil has warmed and has begun to dry from winter rains or snows according to Dr Rose of the OSU department of Horticulture and Crop Science. She also says a second mulch application is often needed in the fall for newly established plants after the first frost. Established plants should be watered in late autumn if the soil is not already moist then mulch, according to Dr. Rose.
Last Words
Whether you want a decorative or plant and soil beneficial ground cover, mulch is a great option for your yard. Take the worry out of buying the right amount of mulch by using our easy to use mulch calculator.
1. Mulching Landscape Plants, HYG-1083-96, Dr. Mary Ann Rose, Dr. Elton Smith, Ohio State University Extension Fact Sheet, Horticulture and Crop Science, 2001 Fyffe Court, Columbus, OH 43210-1096
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