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Just like a gravel calculator can help you determine how much crushed rock you need for a particular application, gardeners and agriculturalists can use a mulch calculator to plan for their projects too.
Proper planning is essential to the success of both small-scale and large-scale projects, and it’s very important to use the right amount of mulch to give yourself the best chance of generating the results you’re after.
What Does a Mulch Calculator Do?
A mulch calculator is an easy-to-use online tool that provides accurate estimates of your volume needs based on specific criteria.
Comprehensive mulch calculators generate these estimates using three main factors:
- The area to be covered – Adding these numbers together.
- The type of mulch you’re using – Some mulches are thicker and more voluminous than others, which affects calculations. Thinner mulches are needed in greater quantities to cover an area to a given depth than thicker ones.
- The intended depth of the mulch layer – The depth of the mulch layer will differ, depending on your intended application.
Apart from the surface area of the space you’re working with, these factors will vary from project to project. It’s important to choose a mulch that is specially formulated to support specific growing activities; some mulches are designed for commercial fruit and vegetable cultivation, while others are more adept at warding off lawn and garden weeds.
Similarly, not all mulches need to be applied to the same depth. The primary factor that determines depth is whether you’re applying the mulch to bare soil at the beginning of the growing season, or using it to supplement existing growth after growing season is already underway.
How Do I Use a Mulch Calculator?
Mulch calculators are designed for intuitive ease of use. You simply need to enter the appropriate information in the given fields, and the tool will do the rest.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the results you generate will only be as accurate as the information you provide.
If you’re making broad estimates of the area to be covered as well as the depth of the mulch you need, your results will be less accurate than they would be if you took the time to measure precisely.
What Will the Mulch Calculator Tell Me?
The mulch calculator will tell you how much mulch you need to buy to cover an area of the indicated size to the indicated depth. Some calculators are calibrated to provide an estimate of the number of bags you’ll need, assuming that you’ll be buying standard bags containing 2 to 3 cubic feet of mulch.
In some cases, you can toggle between bag sizes, which is a very useful feature if you’re trying to generate an accurate cost forecast.
Things to Keep in Mind when Using a Mulch Calculator
The single most important thing to keep in mind when using a mulch calculator is to be as accurate as possible in your estimates and projections. If you’re not sure what type of mulch you need for a specific application, discuss your project with a knowledgeable and experienced mulch producer or distributor. They will be able to offer helpful advice that will benefit your efforts while helping you keep costs as low as possible.
You should also double-check all fields before finalizing the calculation to make sure that you’re using the correct units.
For example, you may have determined the surface area of your lawn, garden or field in square yards when the calculator needs you to enter this information in square feet. Other calculators may offer a choice of different area or depth units, so be sure you’re working with the right units before submitting your calculations.
If you’re looking for a reliable mulch supplier, look no further than Braen Supply. Talk to one of our experts for more information on how to get started with your next mulch project. We can’t wait to help![/vc_column_text][templatera id=”7545″][/vc_column][/vc_row]