Topsoil: The Need to Know Before Buying
Why Organic Matter Makes All the Difference
If you tuned into WDIY 88.1 FM’s You Bet Your Garden on September 12th, anything and everything topsoil was the topic. Host Mike McGrath invited our own Jake Chalfin, the show’s “Advisor on All Things Compost”, to answer all the questions he and his viewers have on topsoil.
Listen to the full episode here:
So, what’s with an episode all about topsoil? As Mike says, it’s a tricky topic; “Topsoil has no defined definition that I know of. It is technically defined as the first 2–3 inches of undisturbed forest floor.”
What makes it so hard to define? And how can you work with topsoil if its origins can be so sundry? That’s where Jake shares his expertise with Mike, “The thing about topsoil is that there’s so much in its texture and makeup. It’s made by Mother Nature, it could be different soil from, you know, 50 yards down the road [on] your neighbor’s property. You might share a front lawn, but they might have different soil than you.”
Jake suggests giving it the eye (and hand) test before you buy: “Put eyes on it and look at it, maybe even get it on their hands.”
What About Weeds?
Yes, weeds come with the package. As Jake put it, “We’re dealing with a naturally produced product from Mother Nature, and weeds are unavoidable.” But not all hope is lost. He also informed Mike and the listeners about preventive measures one can take. “You can put straw down, you can put mulch down, just keep up on the weeds, plant what you want to plant right away so it can outcompete your weeds.”
Jake reminds listeners that weeds aren’t always a bad sign: “So, if you had a bucket [of soil that is watered] and nothing was growing, you could say, ‘Oh! Well, that’s great! There’s no weeds growing.’ But you could also say, ‘Oh, jeez, why isn’t anything growing?’ There’s a balance there.”
How does our Enriched Topsoil fit in all this? It’s blended with our compost to ensure you receive the organic matter, nutrients, and beneficial microorganisms that make soil truly alive.
Want a garden that thrives? Get topsoil that can give your project what it needs to grow.
For large quantities (25 yards or more) of Enriched Topsoil, call us at 610-268-5555. For smaller quantities, visit our Garden Center Locator to find the retailer closest to you.
