Mulch type & depth
Mulch type

Aromatic cedar repels insects and resists decay. Lasts 2–3 seasons.

Desired depth 3"
1"6"

2–3" is standard for most beds. 4" for weed suppression. Over 4" can suffocate plants.

Existing mulch depth 0"
0" (fresh install)4"

If refreshing existing mulch, only the difference in depth is needed.

Overage
Bed areas
2 areas

Add each bed or zone separately. Mix rectangles, circles, and triangles for irregular landscapes.

Purchasing format
Buy as
Bag size
Bag price ($)

2 cu ft hardwood: ~$5–$8 · Cedar: ~$7–$11 · Dyed: ~$6–$10.

Bulk price ($ / cu yd)

Bulk hardwood: ~$30–$55/cu yd. Cedar: ~$40–$65. Pickup or delivered.

Bag vs. bulk comparison
Weed barrier fabric
Landscape fabric installed under mulch to suppress weeds
Fabric type

Non-woven lets water through better than woven. Heavy-duty lasts 5–10 years.

Fabric cost ($ / sq ft)

Includes 10% overlap at seams. Pins/staples ~$0.02–$0.04/SF extra.

Bed edging / border
Steel, plastic, or rubber edging to define bed boundaries
Edging type

Steel edging is the most durable for clean bed definition. Lasts decades.

Edging cost ($ / lin ft)

Total edging LF is estimated from bed perimeters automatically.

Bulk delivery fee
If ordering bulk mulch delivered by truck
Delivery fee ($)

Typical bulk delivery: $50–$150 depending on distance and supplier minimums (usually 2–3 cu yd min).

Labor — spreading & installation
Spreading mulch, pulling weeds before install, and edging
Mulch spreading ($ / cu yd)

Spreading and raking: ~$18–$35/cu yd. Includes moving material from pile or bags.

Bed prep / weeding ($ / sq ft)

Hand-weeding and edging before mulching: ~$0.10–$0.35/SF.

Total sq ft
Cu yards needed
Materials
Est. total
Cost breakdown
Mulch material
Total estimate
Bags to buy
Cu yards (bulk)
Total cubic feet
Barrier sq ft
Edging lin ft
Total areas

1 cu yd = 27 cu ft · Depth in inches ÷ 12 × sq ft = cu ft needed · Existing mulch depth subtracted from desired depth · Quantities include selected overage