Start by measuring the length and width of your garden bed, then multiply these numbers together to get the area. If your bed is circular or rounded, use the formula A=(3.14)r^2.

For unusual garden shapes, do your best to measure and estimate, rounding up to ensure you'll have enough mulch to cover the bed. Ideally, mulch should be about 2-4 inches deep.

If mulch is too thick, it can keep water from reaching your plant’s roots. If it’s too thin, it’ll wash away with rain, struggle to retain moisture and allow weeds to crop up.

Bags are sold with a standard size of 2 cubic feet per bag, meaning you could fill two 12-by-12 inch cubes with one bag, or cover 24 square feet with one inch of mulch.

A bag will cover around 12 square feet at the minimum suggested depth of 2 inches. Divide the size of your garden by 12 to get an idea of how many bags of mulch you'll need.

For example, a 10-by-20-foot garden bed has an area of 200 square feet. Divide 200 by 12 to get 16.67, meaning you need 17 bags to cover your garden bed with 2 inches of mulch.

Start your mulching project by cleaning out the garden beds and removing old mulch, leaves, sticks, and weeds before creating a distinct border around the area you want to mulch.

Give your bare soil a good soak before applying mulch to ensure your plants are well-hydrated, as fresh mulch can make it harder for water to reach the soil.

With a rake, hoe or shovel, spread the mulch evenly with a layer depth of 2-4 inches. In tight corners and under plants, use gloved hands to spread it as far back as possible.

Be sure to make a donut shape of mulch around trees to ensure the trunk stays dry. When finished, water down the mulch again to help it settle in.