Figuring out how much soil you need to fill your urban planter boxes is a crucial step before you start your gardening project. Buying too much is wasteful, and buying too little means a second trip to the store. The process is straightforward and only requires you to know the dimensions of your boxes.
First, you need to calculate the volume of a single planter box. Grab a tape measure and find the internal length, width, and depth in feet. For example, a common large planter might be 4 feet long, 2 feet wide, and 1.5 feet deep.
The formula for volume is: Length x Width x Depth = Volume (in cubic feet).
So, for our example box: 4 ft x 2 ft x 1.5 ft = 12 cubic feet.
Since you have three identical boxes, you simply multiply the volume of one box by three.
Total soil needed = Volume of one box x Number of boxes
12 cubic feet x 3 = 36 cubic feet.
Therefore, you would need 36 cubic feet of soil to fill all three planters. Most bagged soil is sold in cubic feet, so this tells you exactly how many bags to purchase. If you prefer to work in liters, remember that 1 cubic foot is approximately 28.3 liters. So, 36 cubic feet is roughly 1,019 liters.
Always remember to use the internal measurements of your planters for the most accurate calculation. If your planters are different sizes, calculate the volume for each one individually and then add them all together for the final total. Happy gardening