Get matched with top mulch and topsoil pros in Elkader, IA

A 40-pound bag of topsoil covers 0.76 cubic feet, enough for 4.5 square feet with a 2-inch depth or 36 square feet with a .25-inch depth, such as topdressing a standard garden bed. If you want 2 inches of fresh topsoil for your 36-square-foot garden bed, you’ll need eight 40-pound bags.

Pea gravel consists of many small, rounded stones that, unsurprisingly, kind of resemble peas. They range in size from 1/8 to 3/8 of an inch. Higher-end products might be a little more uniform and have fewer jagged rocks in the mix.

Topsoil should go down first. If the topsoil is next to your house, make sure the grade slopes away from the house to keep water from pooling against your foundation and possibly leaking into your basement or crawl space. Don’t cover your decorative landscape mulch with topsoil as that defeats the purpose of laying down the mulch. If you’re trying to create a certain soil composition to improve plant growth, you’ll likely want compost mixed into the topsoil instead of mulch. Over time, any decorative wood mulch will simply decompose under the topsoil.

If you have a large area of brush and vegetation to clear, forestry mulching may be the best option. This method works well for relatively flat areas that don’t have many large rocks or mature trees to clear. Forestry mulching is a relatively quick process that improves soil health, reduces fire risk, and leaves behind usable mulch.