Quick Snapshot (skip ahead if you’re in a rush)

1 | Mulch 101 – Why We Do It Down Under

If you garden anywhere from Darwin to Hobart, you already know our sun is unforgiving. A 50 °C soil surface on a January afternoon will toast seedling roots in under an hour. Toss on a 75 mm layer of mulch and you instantly:

• Cut evaporation by up to 70 % – fewer hoses, fewer water-restriction fines.
• Choke out weeds before they break ground.
• Soften temperature swings so citrus roots don’t cook by day and freeze by night.
• Feed the microbes (if you choose an organic mulch that breaks down slowly).

In plain English: mulch is the cheapest insurance policy you can buy for a garden bed.

2 | Stop Guessing – How the Calculator Works

1. Measure your patch – length × width in metres.
2. Choose your depth:
   • 50 mm = cosmetic top-up or fine for natives.
   • 75 mm = sweet spot for most suburban beds.
   • 100 mm = heavy-duty for blazing west-facing slopes or new plantings.
3. Drop in the price per m³ or per bag (we pre-fill average metro prices; tweak for regional quotes).
4. Hit Calculate on the Mulch Calculator – you’ll see:
   • Total cubic metres
   • Number of 40 L or 60 L bags
   • Ball-park spend including GST

Hand-on-heart tip: Round your area down, not up. Running short by half a bag hurts less than staring at a lonely pile of leftovers on the driveway.

3 | Depth Cheat-Sheet You Can Screenshot

4 | The Great Mulch Face-Off (Including Black Mulch)

A closer look at black mulch

Black mulch is pine or hardwood bark dressed in a carbon-based dye – think activated charcoal without the mess. Garden designers love it because bright green foliage, silver-leaf natives and even white pebbles leap out against the dark backdrop.

• Heat factor: In cool climates (hello Canberra frosts) the extra surface warmth can wake soil microbes earlier in spring.
• Colour fade: Cheap product turns grey by Christmas. Go for a supplier who guarantees colour fastness for at least 12 months.
• Food gardens: Modern dyes are inert, but if you’re nervous, keep black mulch for ornamentals and use straw round the lettuces.

5 | Five Wallet-Friendly Tricks Most People Forget

1. Bulk beats bags once you hit 2 m³ – delivery is cheaper than ten trips to Bunnings.
2. Split a load with the neighbour; one truck fee, two happy gardeners.
3. Winter specials – landscapers slow down, suppliers discount. Stock up in June.
4. Fluff before buying – a garden fork restores 10 mm of “loft” you forgot you had.
5. Strategic depth – every extra centimetre on a 20 m² bed is another 0.2 m³. Plug the numbers into the Mulch Calculator and watch dollars vanish or re-appear.

6 | Real-World FAQ (Aussie Edition)

Can I dump mulch straight on weeds?
Yank or poison established nasties first. Even 100 mm won’t stop couch or kikuyu runners.

Is dyed black mulch safe for pets?
Reputable suppliers use carbon or iron-oxide tints – non-toxic if Fido tastes it. Always read the MSDS to be sure.

How often do I top-up?
Bark & chip last 18 – 24 months in humid zones; straw lasts one season. The moment sunlight hits bare soil, it’s time.

My beds are odd shapes. How do I measure area?
Break the bed into rectangles and triangles, use the Mulch Calculator for each, then add. Or pace the longest length and average width, multiply, and accept a tiny margin of error.

7 | One-Minute Action Plan

1. Scroll to the top and fire up the Mulch Calculator.
2. Screenshot or jot down cubic metres and bag count.
3. Call two local suppliers for a delivered m³ quote (ask about winter deals).
4. Choose your mulch colour – classic brown, rich red or bold black.
5. Order, spread, water in, then put your feet up.