MULCH
Adding organic mulch to your landscape is a great
step in making your yard more Florida-Friendly.
Organic mulch is derived from plant material such
as tree wood, tree bark, leaves, or pine needles.
Mulch can be applied around trees, shrubs, and
planting beds while adding benefits.
Proper Mulching Techniques

Maintain mulch at 2-3 inches deep, after
settling.

Keep mulch 12-18 inches away from the base of
trees and 3-4 inches away from the base of
other plants.

Avoid “volcano mulching” or placing piles of
mulch around the base of trees.

Mulched areas should extend past the dripline
of trees.

Rake older mulches that have become matted
to allow air and moisture through.

Keep organic mulches at least 1 foot away from
buildings.
PHOTO BY: ANNE YASALONIS
Types of Organic Mulch

Fallen leaves

Pine straw

Pine bark

Melaleuca mulch

Eucalyptus mulch

Utility mulch
Calculating the Amount of Mulch Needed
When buying mulch in bulk, you will need to
calculate the amount needed in cubic yards.
Follow the steps below for converting an area to
Benefits of Using Organic Mulch
cubic yards:

Maintains soil moisture
1. Measure the area to be mulched in square feet.

Suppresses weeds
2. Decide on the depth of the mulch and convert

Moderates soil temperature

Improves soil health

Reduces soil erosion

Protects plants

Adds beauty to the landscape
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it to a fraction of a foot.
3. Multiply the area to be mulched from (square
feet) by the depth (fraction of a foot).
4. Convert cubic feet to cubic yards by dividing
the cubic feet by 27.
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Example for converting an area to cubic yards:
1. Area to be mulched is 5 feet x 20 feet = 100
square feet.
2. The mulch depth will be 3 inches, 3 divided by
12 = 1/4 foot.
3. 100 square feet x 1/4 foot = 25 cubic feet.
4. 25 cubic feet divided by 27 = 0.926 cubic yards.
If buying bagged mulch, you can also determine
the amount of bags needed to cover an area by
calculating the amount needed in cubic feet. Then,
PHOTO BY: ANNE YASALONIS
divide the area to be mulched in cubic feet by the
amount of mulch in the bag.
For example, if the area to be mulched is 25 cubic
feet and the bag of mulch contains 2 cubic feet,
divide 25 by 2, which equals 12.5. You would need
13 bags of mulch.
PERENNIAL PEANUT USED AS A LIVING MULCH INSTEAD OF TURFGRASS.
sunlight, can be planted with a shade-tolerant
groundcover. Groundcovers are also helpful in
preventing soil erosion on slopes where other
types of mulch might wash away with
Inorganic Mulch
stormwater.
Inorganic mulches, such as gravel, rock, crushed
Where can I find more information?
For more information on using mulch in the
landscape:
shells, and shredded rubber, do not add any
benefits to plants or soils. Instead, they may
actually be harmful to plants and soil by
increasing temperatures. These materials should
be avoided in planting beds. Inorganic mulch is
better suited for walkways or other areas where
plants are not desired. Gravel or rocks may be
particularly useful in areas under roof gutters
experiencing washout. Remember to put some
type of ground cloth or weed barrier underneath
the inorganic mulch to suppress weeds and
EDIS document—Landscape Mulches: What are
the Choices in Florida?
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fr079
For more information on Florida-Friendly
Landscaping™:
The Florida Yards and Neighborhoods Handbook
http://fyn.ifas.ufl.edu/materials/
FYN_Handbook_2015_web.pdf
minimize sinking in the soil.
Or, Call the Florida-Friendly
Landscaping™ Program:
Groundcovers as Living Mulch
Julie Schelb, Florida-Friendly Landscaping ™
Groundcovers can be used as a living mulch in the Program Coordinator
[email protected]
landscape. They may be used to replace large
areas of turfgrass or small patches that are difficult 863-519-1068
to mow. Shaded areas where turfgrass is desired, http://polk.ifas.ufl.edu/fyn
but difficult to grow because there is not enough
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11/7/2016