Mulching in Milwaukee, WI | ALT Landscaping

The short answer

One cubic yard of mulch covers roughly 100 square feet at a three-inch depth. A typical Milwaukee front-yard bed system takes three to six yards. ALT Landscaping edges the beds, removes weeds, and installs shredded hardwood or dyed mulch across Milwaukee County. Free estimates and yardage calculated for you.

Mulch is the highest-return hour anyone spends on a landscape. It suppresses weeds, holds moisture through a dry August, moderates soil temperature, stops soil washing out during storms, and makes an average bed look intentional.

What’s included

Bed edgingA cut spade edge that holds its line all season and keeps mulch out of the turf.
Weed removal firstMulching over established weeds buys about three weeks. Beds are cleaned out before anything goes down.
Correct depthTwo to three inches. Deeper is not better. Piled mulch sheds water, harbors pests and suffocates shallow roots.
No volcano mulchingMulch is pulled back from trunks and stems. Mounding it against bark rots the collar and kills trees slowly.
Material optionsShredded hardwood, dyed brown, dyed black, and decorative stone.

How much mulch do you need?
Bed size	At 2 inches deep	At 3 inches deep
100 sq ft	0.6 yd³	1 yd³
250 sq ft	1.5 yd³	2.3 yd³
500 sq ft	3.1 yd³	4.6 yd³
1,000 sq ft	6.2 yd³	9.3 yd³

Mulching questions, answered

How many yards of mulch do I need?

Multiply bed length by width to get square feet, then divide by 100 for a three-inch depth or by 160 for two inches. A 20-foot by 8-foot bed is 160 square feet, or about 1.6 cubic yards at three inches. Send ALT Landscaping your measurements and we will figure it for you.

When should mulch go down in Milwaukee?

Mid-April through May, after the soil has warmed and spring bulbs have pushed through. Mulching too early on cold, wet ground traps moisture and slows the soil from warming. A light fall refresh in October is fine for appearance and winter protection.

Should I remove the old mulch first?

Usually not. Old mulch breaks down into the soil, which is the point. If the existing layer is already three inches or more, we pull the excess back and top-dress lightly instead of adding to a pile that is already too deep.