Buying landscape materials in bulk rather than by the bag often offers a significant cost advantage for large projects. When purchasing mulch in large quantities, suppliers typically load it using a front-end loader, which measures the product in “scoops.” This “scoop” is the standard volume unit for bulk purchasing, but it is not a legally standardized measure like a gallon or a pound. Understanding the actual volume of a scoop is the first step in accurately estimating your project needs and ensuring you receive the quantity you pay for.
The Variability of a Bulk Mulch Scoop
The volume of a single mulch scoop is not universal and is determined by the size of the bucket attached to the supplier’s front-end loader. Suppliers utilize various machine sizes, meaning the volume of a “scoop” can range significantly between locations. For smaller machines like skid steers, capacity often falls between 0.5 and 1.5 cubic yards. Mid-sized wheel loaders, common for handling bulk materials, typically use buckets rated for 2 to 5 cubic yards.
A cubic yard is the official volume measurement for bulk landscaping materials and equals 27 cubic feet. Since the physical size of the loader bucket dictates the scoop’s volume, a supplier must explicitly state their scoop’s capacity, usually 1, 1.5, or 2 cubic yards. The bucket’s capacity is typically measured as “struck capacity,” which is the volume when the material is level with the rim. Before ordering bulk mulch, confirm the supplier’s specific scoop size in cubic yards.
Converting Scoops to Coverage Area
Once you confirm the supplier’s scoop size, you can precisely determine the coverage area based on your desired application depth. The relationship between the volume of mulch, the depth it is spread, and the total area it covers is mathematically fixed.
A single cubic yard of mulch (27 cubic feet) will cover 324 square feet if spread at a depth of 1 inch. This is the baseline measurement. As you increase the application depth, the coverage area decreases proportionally. Spreading the mulch at a common depth of 2 inches, for example, reduces the coverage area of one cubic yard to 162 square feet.
For aggressive weed suppression or establishing a new bed, a 3-inch depth is often recommended. At this depth, one cubic yard will cover approximately 108 square feet. To calculate your total cubic yard requirement, use this formula: multiply your total square footage by the desired depth in inches, and then divide that result by 324. This converts your area and depth requirement into the necessary volume to place your order.
Essential Steps for Calculating Your Total Needs
Accurately calculating your total mulch needs begins with precise measurement of the planting beds and landscape areas you intend to cover. For simple rectangular spaces, measure the length and width to find the total square footage. Irregularly shaped beds can be measured by breaking them down into simpler geometric shapes, such as separate rectangles, circles, or triangles, and then calculating the area of each section before summing them up.
The depth chosen for application significantly impacts the volume needed and the efficacy of the mulch. For refreshing an existing mulched area, a lighter application of 1 inch is often sufficient to restore color and appearance. To effectively suppress weed growth and retain soil moisture, a depth of 2 to 3 inches is typically the most practical recommendation. Applying less than 2 inches may not adequately block sunlight from reaching weed seeds, while applying much more than 3 inches can potentially harm plant roots by retaining too much moisture or impeding necessary gas exchange.
It is also wise to account for material settling and minor waste during the spreading process. Mulch is an organic product that will compact over time, and some material will inevitably be lost or misplaced during application. Ordering a slight overage, perhaps 5 to 10 percent more than your initial calculation, helps ensure you do not run short before the project is completed. The final step is to take your calculated total cubic yards needed, confirm the supplier’s scoop size, and then place your order for the corresponding number of scoops.