Let’s talk topsoil for a moment. It’s the unsung hero of our gardens, but how much do you really know about topsoil and its uses?
We’ll take a look at what you need to consider to ensure you buy the right topsoil for purpose. Our Organic Topsoil range here at Eco is great for finding the right one for you with a variety of types listed on our website.
Topsoil is the top most layer of soil. It’s very useful for adding to new flower beds, putting down before laying turf, or filling big holes.
Some grades of topsoil are full of nutrients to support plant growth, while others are more suited to industrial uses. We recommend trying our Eco Organic Topsoil: SuperSoil that produces a fantastic nutrient and organic profile without the need for fertilisers.
There are three grades of topsoil available to purchase: economy, general purpose and premium. Let’s have a look at all three and find out the best uses for each grade.
The cheapest option is economy topsoil. This grade of topsoil will not have been processed at all and will not contain many, if any, nutrients. This type of topsoil is suitable for filling large holes; used in situations where quantity is needed over quality. Economy topsoil can be deficient in organic matter and contain high levels of zootoxins (poisons produced by animals) and phytotoxins (poisons produced by plants), weed seeds and roots, so it’s not ideal for using for plants, vegetables or laying turf on.
Although the cheapest topsoil may seem the most appealing, it may not always be the best to use. You can check out our blog, Why you shouldn’t use the cheapest topsoil available, to find out more.
General purpose topsoil will usually be rich enough in nutrients for plant growth, but may contain lumps and gravel.
This soil is sometimes available in different screen sizes, however at Eco, our general purpose topsoil is available in 15-20mm screen size which is a little too course to use directly under turf, as it can leave lumps and lead to complaints down the line.
Premium grade topsoil is the best quality available. It will be free from weeds, biotoxins, twigs and gravel. Premium topsoil will be high in nutrients and is sometimes deliberately enriched. This type of topsoil is perfect for anything which needs help to establish, such as seeds, turf and even growing flowers for shows. Some plant nurseries use this grade of topsoil for potting their plants rather than compost (so it must be good!).
At Eco, our premium topsoil is 10mm, this is the screen size of topsoil which is recommended for laying turf on, since it’s finer and less lumpy than the general purpose topsoil. Using this grade of topsoil for laying your turf on will result in healthy, well rooted turf (provided the lawn is properly cared for once laid), which isn’t lumpy and bumpy underfoot.
Before you go shopping for your topsoil, you need to know which grade you need. To know this, you need to know what you’re using the topsoil for. If you are filling large holes (maybe you want to fill in an old pond) you can opt for economy topsoil. If you are laying turf, or you are a keen gardener opt for premium topsoil.
RHS has an informative read if you’re struggling to find out which topsoil you should be choosing for your gardening needs, as well as some facts about topsoil to check out.
The RHS suggest you should inspect your topsoil before you buy it. A good supplier will be able to send you sample on request and be able to answer simple questions about their products, such as the source of their topsoil.
The British Standard for soil is BS:3882: 2015. If you see this on a product you can buy with confidence.
There is also a PAS100 standard for composted materials which is another key standard you can look for to enable you to buy with confidence.
At Eco we supply samples of topsoil on request and we will provide a copy of our test analysis upon request. We can also answer your questions about our products.
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As the winter season approaches, many gardeners may be wondering how to best care for their garden soil and plants during the colder months.
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