I want to add garden soil to improve my garden. Is this a good idea?
Many folks think they have to add garden soil to get a decent garden and I hear this all the time, “Let’s add some soil to make the garden better!”
The reality is quite different. Unless you are trying to grow in beach sand (I was in one garden) or raise the level of your garden, then your efforts are a waste of time and money.
What you want is better soil so you can grow better or bigger plants.
I brought two truckloads of “soil” in to make a raised bed as we have 2-inches of clay soil over shale rock so not enough to grow on. This is the only real reason imho to bring in soil. Having done this, I started the ongoing task of making this into decent topsoil.
You have two options to improve your soil
Option one:
You can dig up all your plants (you can’t bury plants under new topsoil)
You bring in a load of topsoil and spend the time spreading it around the garden. Hauling it here and there, raking it and getting it level. Then you reinstall the plants.
Your soil level is higher but not necessarily better.
I note that some topsoil companies add manure to their load to make the soil appear richer but this is simply buying expensive manure. It’s gone in a few years as the manure decomposes and you’re almost back where you started.
Option two
Or you can spend the same amount of money on bagged manure or compost. Or even bales of straw.
Spread that over your garden soil (without having to dig up plants or dig it in or rake it or ??) as evenly as you can and then walk away. The job is done. (If you can get a load of manure from a nearby farmer you’re even better off but nearby farmers are hard to come by in the suburbs or downtown cores.)
Bottom Line:
- Bring in soil to raise the level of your soil.
- Bring in compost, manure or organic matter to create better soil.
