How Much Mulch Do I Really Need?

Now there's a frequently asked question. And to tell you that mulch is sold in bulk by the Cubic Yard (27 Cubic Feet) is actually telling you very little.

Here's an easy way to figure it out before you buy more or less than you need:

Measure the Length (in feet) and the Width (in feet) of the are you want to mulch. Then determine the Depth (in inches) you want to mulch to. If there's already layers of mulch down, apply it to 2" to continue the soil-amending process. If you've never mulched before, or if this is a new garden bed, use 3-4" to start off.

Here's an example: say the existing garden bed is 12'(Length) x 9'(Wide) and you want to mulch to a 2" Depth. The formula looks like this...

You'll need .67 Cubic Yard for mulching this existing garden bed. Simple. It's better to get a full Cubic Yard (27 Cubic Feet) and have some available for other garden areas. It never hurts to stockpile some extra mulch; you'll always find a use for it somewhere.

Now suppose you have a circular garden bed, say around a tree. Use 3.14 x the Radius (in feet) squared, multiplied by the Depth (in inches), divided by 12.

The formula looks like this...

This is mulch for one tree; using the same formula, you could mulch 8.5 trees. But remember; do not snug the mulch around the tree base; instead leave a 5-6" gap of space to allow the bark to get oxygen and avoid any unusual moisture retention that wet mulch would contribute to injuring the tree's health.

If you get stuck on either of these formulas, simply call us with your garden bed's current or proposed dimensions, and we'll help you figure it out.

Milk Jug Watering

Liquid Assets

Re-Cycle Those Milk Jugs In Your Garden As A Drip-Irrigation System.

Save those 1-gallon plastic milk jugs! They're invaluable for watering plants. After planting annuals, perennials or small nursery stock (use several jugs for shrubs and small trees), simply put 3-5 pin-holes in the bottom of the jug, remove the plastic cap and sit the jug right next to the plant. In five or six hours, all the water will slowly drip into the ground and can be uptaken by the newly-installed plant. Adding a transplant fertilizer (5-25-5 or something similar with a high phosphorous number) is a good idea. And to keep the jug from blowing away after it's water is exhausted, simply tie a piece of string through the jug's handle and to a bamboo stake driven into the ground near the plant; never tie the jug to the plant.

Besides now having a wonderfully easy drip system at your disposal, you've helped to recycle plastic from the landfills and dumps, since the plastic lasts for many years. Remember to keep the cap to each jug, so that when you fill it and take it to a new plant for irrigation, you can turn it upside down with the cap in place until you sit it next to the plant or shrub.

In this Issue:

Page 1:
Beat The Heat With Drought-Resistant Plants

Planning For The Fall Garden

Mulch Well and Water Less

Page 2:
Figuring Out How Much Mulch To Use

Milk Jug Watering

Page 3:
106 Newly-Released Plant Varieties

Under Stress: Plants That Can Take It

Hardy Cactus Garden Update