What do you do with topsoil?

9 years ago

Hi all!

So,

Im filling in my dads garden which had a couple shrubby things, and never amended soil. Only mulched. With my perennial flowers. I got him to order 3 cu yards of compost, but he was convinced we needed topsoil.(suffers from never listen to daughter syndrome. Its awful) so now we have 3 yds of each. I mixed about a third of the compost into the clay ridden ground(along woth old mulch that was there) and prob a little less of the topsoil(just to be rid of it) Ugh im so grustratrd haha is there any use for topsoil? What would you do with it?? Am i defeating the purpose of adding compost by adding topsoil? Im striving for five (%) but feel like im technically just amending the topsoil... Ahh!!!

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Comments (4)

Kimmsr
9 years ago
"Topsoil" is the top 4 to 6 inches of soil from someplace that often might include some organic matter. There is nothing magical about anything called "topsoil" unless it does contain adequate (5 to 8 percent) organic matter, but then you are also adding 92 to 95 percent more minerals to what you already have.
I would try, hard, to convince him the soil needs organic matter, not more mineral.
luckygal
9 years ago
Bottom line is you really don't know what you get with 'topsoil' unless the seller goes to the bother of having it tested which is unlikely. So just consider that you may have to amend it and that compost may help if it is good quality. Unfortunately it's the same problem with purchased compost in that we don't know the quality. I would advise you not to waste a minute in stressing about it, just mix the two together and use. If there is extra you can find low spots or make a somewhat raised bed. With no pictures and no idea of what your stubborn Dad's garden looks like it's difficult to advise.

A few years ago when I needed to fill some low areas in my yard (in my garden as well as the near pasture) I bought 4 big loads of 'topsoil' which was the local clay soil with sand added. It looked better than the native clay I have on my property so may have been from a ranch location. However, it was full of weed seeds so I was busy pulling weeds that year in my garden. Fortunately they were annual weeds so in the pasture the horses ate them before they went to seed and they are now gone.

The large bed in my garden had good soil I had amended over many years so that is now under at least a foot of 'topsoil' that I've had to amend so it's getting better and the plants are doing fine.
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I am impressed with your initiative! I agree with your decision to till or hand dig initially since removal of whatever was on the lot before it was vacant involved heavy equipment and compaction of the fill used. It can be difficult for plants' roots to penetrate highly compacted soils. Someone suggested that you pull topsoil/compost from your paths onto your beds; that's a good suggestion since you won't need to have good soil there. A few random thoughts and suggestions: - Having mulch of some kind, such as wood chips over corrugated cardboard in your paths will give a neat appearance, help conserve moisture, and reduce weeds. - Having mulch such as compost on the surface of your beds after planting will help keep moisture and soil temperature more even as well as feeding the soil and plants. - I notice that you are planning for 5' wide beds. I suggest that you reduce that to 4' wide so that you can easily reach to the middle of the bed from the paths. I am about 5 1/2' tall and DH is a couple inches under 6', and 4' width has worked well for us, allowing us to reach everything in the bed without having to walk on the soil. - Being between brick buildings in the middle of a city, you will have something of a heat sink in the walls, so you may escape later spring and earlier autumn frosts, extending your season. - Veggies need sun and sun angle will change over the course of the season. Start checking soon to see where the sun hits and for how long each day, and continue to check periodically as the season progresses. This will give you some idea where to best place the beds and the different veggies within the beds as some will be more tolerant of a bit of shade than others. Also take into account plant height and location in figuring shade for other plants. - Since much of the produce is intended for a food pantry, talk to those who run it to find out what they will be most likely to find useful to their customers. Having produce that looks familiar (think about avoiding unusually colored varieties) and that is used locally will give you the biggest bang for your buck. - Consider a couple of herbs if you have room and they will be used; basil and parsley are used in many different cuisines and tend to be expensive to buy. They can be dried or frozen for winter use. - Have fun. The first year tends to be the most difficult, but having a veggie garden is also rewarding IME, both in terms of the produce, but also in terms of being outdoors watching the changes in the garden and the seasons.
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panforcooking
Original Author
9 years ago
Thank you both for your input! I feel much better about it now haha! I got my self all worked up because i didnt know what to do with it and felt like i was forced to get it, then as we were spreading stuff around he kept askig where i wanted it lol! I think i. Will try to upload some pivs
toxcrusadr
9 years ago
It sounds like you're looking for ideas to get rid of it. If you have low spots you can blend it with some compost and spread it there. If there is grass growing you can add a half inch at a time and let the grass grow through.

Is drainage OK around the house? If there has been settling over the years, there might be a few spots you can fill in. Just don't end up with soil touching the siding or you invite termites.

You could just make a pile somewhere and deal with it later. I have some extra from getting a yard of it this spring, but I'll use it later when making a new raised bed. I just don't have time now. I'm piling it in an unused garden bed temporarily.

Last resort, stick a sign on it, FREE TOPSOIL. YOU LOAD. Or post it on Freecycle or the free section of Craigslist.

PS you were right in the first place, poor soil needs amending, not more soil.

What do you do with topsoil?

Comments (4)

Kimmsr

luckygal

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toxcrusadr

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What do you do with topsoil?

Comments (4)

Kimmsr

luckygal

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panforcookingOriginal Author

toxcrusadr

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panforcooking
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