Plan on roughly 0.1 cubic yard of mulch per tree ring — a 4–5 ft wide donut spread 2–3 inches deep. That means one cubic yard handles about 10 trees, which is why even a long street-tree row rarely needs more than a yard or two. Spring planting season is the classic time to top rings up.
Quick tree-ring math
- 4–5 ft ring, 2–3" deep — about 0.1 cubic yard each
- 6 ft ring, 3" deep — closer to 0.25 cubic yard each
- 10 standard rings — about 1 cubic yard total
Pull mulch 2–3 inches back from the trunk and keep the ring saucer-shaped — piling it against bark, the classic "mulch volcano," traps moisture and invites rot. Browse bulk mulch options or size the whole yard at once with the material calculator.
