Mulch & Bark Calculator

Volume, bag count, and cost for any garden mulch or ground-cover material across multiple beds and borders.

Material

Volume/bag: -

Depth (mm)

75 mm is the recommended minimum for effective weed suppression. 100 mm for problem areas.

Overage / Waste (%) 10% recommended to account for uneven ground and settling.

Include weed membrane Landscape fabric under the mulch - calculated in m² (total area + 10% overlap).

Delivery format

Bed / border name Length (m) Width (m)

Or enter total area directly (m²) - overrides grid above

Mulch cost per bag

Weed membrane per m²

Labour per m²

Delivery (flat fee)

Total Area
-
m²

Volume (inc. waste)
-
m³

Bags to order

Weed Membrane

m²

Bed / Border	Dimensions	Area (m²)	Net vol (m³)	With waste (m³)

Depth	Best for
50 mm	Light decorative cover, annual top-up
75 mm	Standard weed suppression (recommended minimum)
100 mm	Problem weed areas, tree bases, new borders
150 mm	Paths, play areas, heavy-duty weed control

Don't mulch right up to plant stems - leave a 100 mm gap to prevent collar rot.

Bark chips (fine): Neat, long-lasting 2-3 years. Best for beds and borders.
Bark chips (medium/coarse): Larger pieces, slower to break down, great for paths.
Wood chip: Raw chipped wood, cheaper, breaks down faster - good soil improver.
Cocoa shell: Attractive, chocolatey smell, nitrogen-rich. Toxic to dogs - avoid if pets present.
Compost: Improves soil as well as suppressing weeds. Re-applied annually.
Straw: Cheap, good for veg beds. Short-lived - biodegrades in one season.
Rubber mulch: Very long-lasting, good for play areas and paths. Not for edible gardens.
Gravel / slate: Permanent cover. Use for drought-tolerant schemes and Mediterranean planting.

Lay weed membrane first for best results - peg every 0.5 m and overlap joins by 150 mm
Wet the ground before laying mulch in dry weather
Top up bark mulch every 1-2 years as it breaks down
Compost and wood chip improve soil structure - they're not just weed suppressants
Bulk loose loads are significantly cheaper per m³ than bagged for large areas
Allow for slight settling - freshly applied mulch compresses by about 10-15%