YardBatch field guide
Plan one material order for several garden beds
Add compatible volumes first, then round the combined order.
YardBatch · Published September 25, 2026
Several small beds can share one material order, but only when they use the same product. Keep mulch, planting soil, and gravel as separate totals. Start a simple list with one row per area: length, width or area, depth to add, and material.
Calculate each area in cubic feet
For a rectangle, multiply length in feet by width in feet by depth in inches, then divide by 12. Working in cubic feet makes it easier to compare the total with bag volumes. Convert the combined cubic feet into yards only after adding the compatible areas.
| Area | Measurements | Volume |
|---|---|---|
| Front bed | 12 × 4 ft, 3 in deep | 12 cu ft |
| Side bed | 8 × 3 ft, 2 in deep | 4 cu ft |
| Small bed | 6 × 2 ft, 3 in deep | 3 cu ft |
The total is 19 cubic feet. Buying 2-cubic-foot bags requires 10 bags, providing 20 cubic feet. Rounding each row separately would produce 6 + 2 + 2 = 10 bags here, but that coincidence will not hold for every set of measurements.
Do not average different depths blindly
A small bed at 4 inches deep and a large bed at 2 inches deep do not combine into a 3-inch average depth. The areas have different weights. Calculate each volume separately to avoid that mistake.
Use the identical-area setting carefully
YardBatch’s “Identical areas” field is for repeated copies of the same dimensions and depth. Three identical 4 × 4 beds at 12 inches deep have a total volume of 48 cubic feet. If one bed has a different fill depth, give it a separate calculation.
A workaround for a combined volume
When you already have a total in cubic feet, you can compare purchase quantities by choosing “I know the square footage,” entering that same numerical total, and setting depth to 12 inches. This is a calculation device only: it does not describe the actual garden layout. Set identical areas to 1 and keep any allowance explicit.
Keep the shopping note clear
Write down the material name, total volume, actual order quantity, delivery instructions, and any assumptions. Leave individual measurements on the same note so a changed bed size can be traced without remeasuring everything.
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