A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion The Food Garden Forum Help choosing right soil

We recently moved into a new house and just finished redesigning our small backyard. We have paved most of it, but left two 1 yard wide strips for flowerbeds. We now need to add soil to the flowerbeds to raise the ground's level and create an environment our plants can flourish in. I need some help figuring out what to fill the flowerbeds with. I've done a tiny bit of research and looks like the best option is to use a mix of non-organic and organic matter. I need some advice on how to go about the selection of both.

For non-organic, I am thinking about ordering "screened topsoil" from a local landscaping shop. Is that usually good enough for flowers, herbs and bushes (which is what we intend to grow)? Another option is buying some type of potting mix from Lowes, but it seems much more expensive (I need a good 2 cubic yards).

As for organic matter, compost and peat moss are mentioned most often. Do I need both? In what proportions should I mix them and the topsoil? Any other advice relevant to the subject would be highly appreciated. Thanks.

Never buy bagged topsoil, it can be almost anything, usually the worst of the worst. Screened topsoil in bulk is often good, ask around, check several sources and/or go with the contractor you feel you trust. That may be all you need. Peat moss is good, and relatively cheap, it may not be necessary if the topsoil is good. Bagged compost may be absolutely worthless, there are no standards for labeling that or topsoil. A good way to go would be to get the bulk, screened topsoil and have a soil test done. Good soil should be sandy loam, when moist, you chould be able to smash it into a ball, then break the ball apart with slight pressure. If you can do that, you'll only need to adjust the nutrients according to the soil test results, you can have the test done at the County Extension Office where you live. If you'll add your location to your user information, it may be that other members will know something about the soil in your area.

Different types of plants require different types of soil. So the place to start is with the plant choices you want to make. I recently bought a place with a big yard that was all clay. I started with a landscapers amended soil. I was not please with it's performance at all. They may screen it but it was full of weeds that I really didn't need to add to my yard. I already had enough of them.

I did buy 400 lbs of Lowes bagged topsoil for my sidewalk flower bed. It actually turned out to be pretty good. I was surprised, happily surprised.

You may want to do a search on "lasagna gardening". It's the latest craze, but the ideas have been around a zillion years. Basically the idea is that you fill your raised beds with anything organic.

Ditto on topsoil. Worthless.TK-- glad you had a good experience!

Thanks a lot for all the replies, much appreciated!