How do I tell if my mulch is short packed?

Short packing, or putting less mulch in the bag than is stated on the label, is a very common practice with some manufacturers because it reduces cost and helps sell on price.

Mulch, by law, is sold on volume, which has to be stated on the bag. The bag must state the volume of the contents, not just the size of the empty bag. You can check the contents of a bag by making a one foot by one foot by one foot box and dumping the mulch in. This is one cubic foot. If the bag says two cubic feet, the box will have to be filled two complete times.