About The Cubic Yard
Free landscape material calculators for homeowners and DIYers
The Cubic Yard was created by a team of DIY enthusiasts who were tired of making two trips to the garden center — once because they bought too little mulch, and once to return the extra. We built the calculators we wished existed, then added the guides to explain the why behind the numbers.
Our content is researched from university extension services (NC State, Penn State, University of Florida IFAS), industry standards (ASTM), and years of hands-on landscaping experience. We verify claims before publishing and update guides when better information is available.
Our Mission
The Cubic Yard exists to solve one common homeowner frustration: guessing how much mulch, gravel, or topsoil to buy — and either running out mid-project or being stuck with 10 leftover bags.
Our free calculators give you exact quantities in seconds. Our guides explain the why behind the numbers — so you understand what you're ordering, not just how much.
How We Research Our Content
Our depth recommendations, mulch-around-trees guidance, and termite risk information are based on published research from NC State Extension, Penn State Extension, University of Florida IFAS Extension, and other land-grant university programs. These are the same sources professional landscapers reference.
Safety claims — particularly for rubber mulch — reference ASTM F1292 (Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials) and CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety. Gravel specifications reference standard construction material grading codes (#57, #411, etc.).
Chemical leaching claims about rubber mulch reference peer-reviewed studies published in environmental science journals. We aim to accurately represent consensus scientific opinion, not cherry-pick alarming findings.
All guides display their last update date. We review pricing data seasonally (spring and fall) to reflect current retail and wholesale market conditions. Technical guidance is reviewed annually.
Accuracy & Limitations
Our Editorial Approach
We don't sell mulch, gravel, or any landscape materials. We don't earn affiliate commissions from product recommendations. Our only revenue comes from display advertising — meaning we have no financial incentive to recommend one material over another.
When our guides say "wood mulch is better than rubber mulch for flower beds," this reflects the consensus of university extension services and professional landscaping organizations — not a commercial interest. We always try to explain why a recommendation is made, so you can evaluate it yourself.
If you believe any of our content is inaccurate or misleading, please contact us. We take accuracy seriously and update content when better information is available.
Contact & Corrections
Found an error? Have a question about our methodology? We want to hear from you.
The best way to reach us is via our calculators — use the feedback mechanism or note corrections in the FAQ sections of individual pages. We review all feedback and update content within 2 weeks of verified corrections.
Key Sources We Reference
- ›NC State Extension — Mulching Trees and Shrubs
- ›Penn State Extension (2023) — Mulching Landscape Plants
- ›University of Florida IFAS Extension — Landscape Mulches
- ›ASTM F1292 (2022) — Standard Specification for Impact Attenuation of Surfacing Materials
- ›CPSC Handbook for Public Playground Safety (Publication 325)
- ›Mulch and Soil Council — Industry Standards and Certification
- ›USDA Forest Service — Urban Tree Management