Topsoil is something that every gardener wants in their garden. This is the top 2-8 inches of soil on any part of the earth and it is coveted by many.
Essentially, topsoil is the most nutrient rich layer of soil available and for good reason. Leaves fall and plants die and they all decay into a nutrient packed layer of rich dirt. The actual composition of topsoil will depend on the area, since some places have more animals, so there will also be assorted manure in the soil. You may also have sand or even bits of stone.
The downside of this wonderful layer of rich dirt is that it covers just the top of your garden area. It may not be enough for you to do everything you wish to in your garden, so you’ll probably end up purchasing some.
Before You Buy Topsoil
Things have already been growing in your garden, whether they are weeds or moss or small saplings. There are so many different plants that grow and use up nutrients that it can actually deplete the soil to a certain extent.
Before you go to purchase any topsoil, you should check your own soil to find out what it has in it and what it is lacking. You can purchase a soil test and check your own soil at home, which will give you a better idea of what your garden needs. When you purchase the topsoil, you’ll find that it lists the percentages of clay, sand and silt, so you can figure out which option is best for your garden. Your topsoil is full of nitrogen, potassium, magnesium, and phosphorus, all of which work together to help your plants grow.
You’ll also find out which types of fertilisers you may need to add to the soil to make it just right for your plants. Not every garden needs help, but you may want to add extra of a certain nutrient in an area where a plant that requires it is growing.
How to Use Topsoil
Since the topsoil you use will provide protection for your plants, you need to use plenty of it to cover those roots. You want to spread it over the top of your planting area and then build it up with more nutrients via fertilisers. You should add the topsoil before you actually plant anything so you aren’t messing about with the roots too much.
Spread the topsoil over your garden with the back of a rake to smooth it out. You should spread it to ensure it’s even and covers any holes or dips in the ground. If you are using topsoil on your lawn, you want to spread it thin enough that the tops of the grass peek through.
The Many Benefits of Topsoil
Once you’ve added topsoil to your garden, you’ll realise quickly just how useful it is. Your garden will grow faster and better than before and the lawn will even have a better texture. However, there are even more benefits to using topsoil. These include:
Improved drought resistance: Topsoil helps protect the roots of your plants and lock in the moisture that has already been drained into the soil. By preventing evaporation, topsoil ensures there’s more water for your plants, even when you have a drought.
More nutrients: Depending on where the topsoil is from, it should have plenty of nutrients. However it will also help maintain nutrients that are added, so that your garden plants can make the most of them. If you have humus rich soil, you’ll find that it already comes with everything your plants need. However, you can also add any missing nutrients with a good dose of manure and specific fertilisers.
Improve plant health: Between the extra oxygen and the nutrients reaching the roots of plants that are growing in topsoil, you’ll find your garden grows better than ever. The extra nutrition encourages plants to form stronger, more solid roots and this will benefit the entire plant. Add to this the fact that you’ll have less erosion and better drainage and you end up with plants that will grow very well.
Better drainage: Topsoil tends to drain very well, so the more of it there is, the better your overall drainage will be. Some people work topsoil into their ground to ensure it is well mixed, then add another layer of topsoil over that. The end result is excellent drainage so your plants will not drown in a rainstorm and the excess moisture will be trapped deep in the ground to promote root growth and expansion.
Less erosion: Erosion is a very real part of gardening, particularly if you have a garden on a slope. Rain and other water will quickly run down, washing away the soil if it isn’t properly anchored. However, this is where the plants come in. Plants that have grown a good root system will hold the soil in place, ensuring that it is prevented from being washed away. You want to avoid cutting back all your plants or pulling them up by the roots, particularly in areas that are susceptible to erosion.
Added microbes: In addition to the nutrients in the soil, you’ll be receiving some very valuable microbes. These break down organic matter and can actually be quite helpful to your plants. When there is good bacteria in the soil, it reduces the likelihood of bad bacteria getting in and flourishing. This keeps your garden much healthier than it otherwise could be.
You’ll want to bring in more topsoil, because over time, your own will become depleted if you are planting things in it. Even a lawn can end up requiring a lot of nutrients and if they’re not replaced, the health benefits will eventually fade and your lawn will look poorly again.
Topsoil Delivery from Topsoil Suppliers
Most of the time, a bag or two of topsoil will be enough for the avid gardener. If you’re planning to make your entire garden healthier or if you want to encourage a large vegetable garden to grow better, however, you will need more than a few bags. This is when topsoil delivery comes in very useful. You can have entire lorry loads of topsoil delivered to your home, ready to be taken to the areas where you need it most.
Large amounts of soil can be very useful, as you can use it to fill in low areas of the garden and even dig it into the existing subsoil. When you use it liberally, you’ll see some clear benefits. Ideally, you will work half of the topsoil into your garden to give it a good, healthy base. Then the rest of the topsoil can be raked out on top of the ground for a solid topper that will protect your plants once they begin to grow.
How to Find Topsoil for Sale
There are a number of ways to find topsoil for sale. Often, people who are clearing their homes for construction or planting will hire a skip for green waste removal. While this green waste is not very useful as is, the removal company will compost it down and mix it with the appropriate proportions of silt and clay to create the perfect topsoil. This end product is available to you.
While composting your own green waste is a good idea, it does take time and you will find that there isn’t usually enough to go around when you’re only composting your own items. You will likely need considerably more and purchasing topsoil in bulk is the best way to go.
You can find topsoil by searching online for bulk topsoil in your area, or you can contact recycling places near you. They may offer this service and can provide you with high quality topsoil.
Before you order, ask about the percentages and see if anything else is added to the topsoil. You may also wish to ask where it came from, as some companies do scrap up topsoil from building sites before the build begins.
Once you have a company that sounds good, you can go ahead and order. You may wish to check prices in your area and go with the cheaper option, since this is not a product that you need to pay considerably more for high quality.
Are you looking for great topsoil in large amounts? Contact Batesy Skip Hire and we’ll bring it right to you.
