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Indiana Mulching Tool
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Small Farms and Gardens
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Version December 2025
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This file can be found accessed at:
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marionswcd.org/soillhealth/
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& the NRCS Indiana Field Office Technical Guide
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Developed by Kevin Allison, Marion County SWCD, in partnership with USDA-NRCS Indiana.
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This work is supported by the Marion County SWCD, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Clean Water Indiana, and North Central SARE. This material is based upon work that is supported by the the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under agreement number 2024-38640-42989 through the North Central Region SARE program under project number ENC24-233. USDA is an equal opportunity employer and service provider. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The USDA NRCS and its partners are equal opportunity provider, employer, and lenders.
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Purpose and Disclaimer
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The Indiana Mulching Tool was developed to assist with calculations related to mulch applications, depths, volumes, and costs. While we strive to provide a helpful tool, the user of this tool assumes responsibility and its use is subject to your own discretion. Pay particular attention to recommended application volumes of mulch – especially if recommendation(s) varies greatly from what you have done in the past. Volumes. size, and density for materials can be variable. This tool provides only an estimate.
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Cost Estimate Disclaimer
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This cost estimates in this workbook are not NRCS payment amounts. Refer to NRCS contract if participating in NRCS programs.
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Worksheets and Reference Tables
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Mulching ToolMake a mulching plan. Enter areas, type of mulch, and desired depth and obtain estimates of material amounts needed. Good for planning and record keeping.
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Cost and TotalsThis sheet totals your mulching entries from the Mulching Tool sheet. Enter cost info here also.
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Helpful Area CalculatorThis sheet helps calculate areas of beds and plots.
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NRCS Program SummaryFor USDA-NRCS programs, this sheet tracks the total area that recieves mulch in a given year of a contract based on the "Contract Item' column in the Mulching Tool.
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Reference TableBackground data for calculations and materials.
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Spreadsheet Color Coding Key
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Use the color codes below to help with data entry and making selections.
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Light blueIndicates dropdown menu
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WhiteIndicates text or numerical input
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Light greyIndicates auto-filled result
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Technology Disclaimer
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Many parts of this spreadsheet are intended to be protected or uneditable to maintain the tool's functionality. The Google Sheets version shows a warning if editing a cell that shouldn't be edited, but it cannot fully protect the cell. Currently, Google Sheets users must click OK to the warning to print. If you accidentaly edit a formula that shouldn't be edited, try "Edit > Undo". If you are unable to recover, you may need to download a new, fresh copy from the SWCD website.
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Resources
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Indiana NRCS Mulching Overview pdf
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marionswcd.org/soilhealth/
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Soil Health Principles
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Minimize Soil Disturbance
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Maximize Soil Cover
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Maximize Continuous Living Roots
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Maximize Biodiversity
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USDA-NRCS Indiana Program Guidance
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Use natural plant-based mulching materials to add organic matter, provide food and shelter for soil biota, and protect the soil surface from raindrop impact and crusting, while allowing adequate soil aeration.

Provide 100% ground coverage.

Do not apply mulches with Carbon:Nitrogen ratios less than 20:1 to watercourses.

NRCS Indiana programs do not pay for multiple applications on one area in a given year. If using this tool with an NRCS program, prevent double counting of areas in a given year by selecting "Yes" in the "Contract Item" column only on unique areas.
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The USDA NRCS and its partners are equal opportunity providers, employers, and lenders.
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