Mulch Weight Per Loose Cubic Yard

Mulch is a useful, versatile material for landscaping, gardening and orchard applications. There are many types of mulch, from wood chips and bark to straw and even shredded paper. Mulch weight varies significantly among types. Even in loose piles, mulches such as wood chips can be quite heavy due to the density of the material. Others, such as straw, are much lighter and more airy.

Mulch is lightweight compared with soil because it is composed of large particles that are naturally loose. This makes it relatively easy to transport. Compacted and wet mulch weighs more than loose, dry piles. Mulch is generally sold by cubic yards. During summer, when moisture has evaporated, their weight is much lower. Mulch is useful for orchards, vegetable gardens, flower beds and landscapes, and is both functional and attractive. It serves to conserve moisture and inhibit diseases and weeds. It also maintains soil temperature, protects roots and eventually breaks down into rich organic material for plants.

Lightweight mulches are cheaper to transport and come in a variety of textures and materials. Hop straw is the mulched parts of dead hop plants, including the vines and leaves, which are chopped after the hops are harvested. Like both cereal straw and shredded newspaper, it weighs about 60 pounds per cubic yard, assuming the mulch is loose and dry. These numbers can rise significantly during wet, rainy periods when moisture levels rise.

Heavier mulches include sawdust, wood chips, alfalfa hay and mint slugs. Although they are more difficult to transport, these mulches tend to last a long time and provide organic content and reliable weed protection. Sawdust and woodchips can weigh between 400 and 800 pounds per cubic yard. Mint slugs are of comparable weight of about 424 pounds per cubic yard. Mint slug is nutrient-rich substance left behind after mint hay is distilled for oil. Alfalfa hay and newspaper weigh about 200 pounds per cubic yard.

To determine the amount of mulch needed, measure the length, width and depth of the intended mulching area. You may want to apply mulch in a single layer across an entire garden bed to reduce weeds or simply around the roots of plants to conserve moisture. Consider the appropriate depth of mulch layers. Apply 2 to 3 inches deep around plants in beds, trees and shrubs. Apply coarser materials like pine nuggets down to a 4 inch depth. If mulch becomes compacted or oxygen cannot reach plant roots, it can hinder growth. This is especially possible when using dense bark mulches. Avoid applying mulch directly at the root base of a freshly planted tree, as this can lead to root rot and other problems. Apply mulch out to the outer layer of branches (drip line) of the tree.