Ask Burton: Q: Do I need mulch? How much mulch do I need? How many bags do I need to buy?

A: Mulching your flowerbeds is the single kindest thing you can do to help your plants thrive throughout the summer! A good, 2-3″ inch layer of mulch will help your plants resist heat and drought stress, as well as reducing weed issues and dressing up the bed nicely. So, the answer to the first question is YES! Please do mulch your beds.

As for the second question, we’ve all started a project and then had to run up to the store to pick up a second batch of material because we did not buy enough the first time. Here’s a walkthrough on how to skip that extra step when it comes to your flowerbeds!

Measure the length and width of your flowerbeds, in feet. Most flowerbeds are not perfect rectangles! If the width of your flowerbed, for example, varies between 4 and 6 feet wide, use the average between. Multiply the length and width of the flowerbed in feet to calculate the square footage of your flowerbed. One cubic foot of mulch will cover six square feet of flowerbed two inches deep. Mulch is usually sold in two and three cubic foot bags.

Use our landscape calculator on our website that can help you decide how many bags of material you’ll need.