Shulfers Hints for Landscaping

How to figure how much bulk material an area requires

If you have odd shaped areas try to break it up into squares, triangles or circles as best as possible and use the following formulas.
 

Rectangle - Measure Length x Width (In feet) = square feet
Square feet divided by chart = cubic yards

Example: Given a square area 16' long by 10' wide and you want 4" deep of mulch.
Calculations: 16 x 10 = 160 square feet
160 divided by 80 = 2 cubic yards. (80 comes from the chart
is how many square feet 1 cubic yard covers @ 4" depth)
 

Right Triangle - Measure Length x Width x .5 = square feet
Square feet divided by chart = cubic yards

Example: Given a right triangle area where one side is 16' long, and one side is 10' long
and you want 4" deep of mulch or stone.
Calculations: 16 x 10 x .5 = 80 square feet
80 divided by 80 = 1 cubic yard. (80 comes from the chart)
 

Circle - Multiply radius (1/2 distance of diameter) x radius x 3.14 = square feet

Example: Given a circle 30' across (15' radius) and you want 4" deep of mulch
Calculations: 15 x 15 x 3.14 = 706.5 square feet
706.5 divided by 80 = 8.83 cubic yards
 

Conversion Chart (square feet to cubic yards)

1 cubic yard will cover the following amount of square feet

1" Deep 320 square feet
2" Deep 160 square feet
3" Deep 108 square feet
4" Deep 80 square feet
6" Deep 54 square feet
12" Deep 27 square feet

 

• Topsoil in lawns mininum 4"
• Bark mulches 3" - 4"
• Stone <1" 3"
• 1 1/2" Riverstone 4"
• 3-6" Stone 6"
   

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• Heaping load on a full size pickup is 3 cubic yards
• Full size pickup level full is 2 cubic yards
• Max load on a small pickup is 1 1/2 yards.
• Most full size pickups can carry 1 cubic yard of stone or topsoil (weight restricted)
• Small single axle dump truck load is 5 yards
• Big dump trucks are 10 or 15 yards
• 27 Cubic feet in 1 cubic yard - 3' x 3' x 3'
• 9 Square feet in 1 square yard - 3' x 3'
• 21 Bushels in 1 cubic yard
  
   

Sod is sold by the square yard. The rolls that we sell are 2' wide by 4 1/2' long or 9 square feet. To compute the number of yards needed, multiply the length x width of the area to be covered and divide by 9 = square yards.

Example: Given an area 16' x 10'
Calculations: 16 x 10 = 160 divided by 9 = 17.77
Hint: always figure extra, in the above example17.77yds - order 18 or 19 yards

To lay sod use a stagger pattern like a brick wall. Every other roll start with one that is cut down from 4 1/2' in length to 2 1/4' long.
 

• Do not use wood chips or sawdust as a mulch around your house because of its appeal to termites and ants.
• Use bark products instead, bark is a trees natural protection from these pests.
• Try to avoid watering your lawn at night especially late night. The best times to water (from best to worst) are as follows. Midday, morning, evening, night. Frequent light waterings are best, over watering and watering at night help promote disease.