Does it list fertilizers on the label?

When I think "soil" not for use in containers I think it's because it has no perlite etc. in it to allow for better drainage- it would compact too densely in a container that lacks soil organisms. Most potting "mix" is just that- a mix of perlite, compost, peat, and perhaps other things with no actual "soil" involved.

If this is the case mix it with perlite.

If it does have fertilizer you could always mix it with fertilizer free potting mix and throw in some perlite- I generally add perlite even to potting mixes.

Or return it and get exactly what you need.

But read the label and see what is actually in it.

You wanted potting soil not garden soil. It's not the fert that is the problem but what the soil is made of.

Bring it back and exchange it

I agree return it or add perlite and lots of it.

I'll add perlite

Potting mix is quite coarse for drainage and aeration, plus it does not have the mineral part of soil in it, rather it is all organic materials. This stuff clearly says it is part topsoil which should never be used in a pot. It will turn into a brick and roots will not be happy.

DO NOT use in containers!! Even adding a large quantity of perlite will not help. Container potting soils are soil-less mixes, containing NO garden soil or topsoil. These natural soils are too dense, too fine a particle size and without sufficient porosity to work well in a container situation. As tox noted, it will either turn into a solid brick or a swampy soup, depending on rainfall and watering. I don't even recommend using Miracle Gro potting soil in a container as it too is far too small a particle size and too heavily peat based. It compacts rapidly and that impedes both aeration and good drainage.

For a good potting or container soil, you want something that is very textural and durable and bark based, like the 5-1-1 mix discussed at length on the Container Gardening forum. A great all purpose container soil of 5 parts bark fines, 1 part peat and 1 part perlite.

Guys, that soil is perfectly fine for containers indoors outdoors and for inground. It is compost with semi fine shredded

pine and a little slow release fertilizer. I added perlite b/c I had some but doubt I'd make a special trip to get some. Also threw in A little peat moss b/c I had it. Hope pics can show it wasn't lowest grade topsoil. I would recommend any beg intermediate or adv gardener to use w/o reserve.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/pdfImages/b9/b9741a4d-c7a2-4097-b98d-84443bdf4d59.pdf?AID=11210757&PID=6150341&SID=imti0saeej00g3da001rw&cm_mmc=CJ--6150341--11210757&cj=true

DH went to reg. computer and quickly found the applicable msds sheet ( he's such a darling!) and the only diff I could find between premium potting soil vs all purpose was that AP was a little more acidic.

my hanging basket has 2 billbergia, a wood fern and a lavender. Weighs 50-75 lbs, and won't be moved very often, if at all

As I recall Miracle Gro Garden soil has no actual soil in it.
It is made of forest fines and other forms of organic material and is a very expensive way to get organic material into soil. You would make a better choice to purchase a bag of compost.

kimmq is kimmsr

Completely agree--but for some unusual reason HD had a great sale on it. Since I use in large quantities, i am really watchful about $/value. This was a good deal and very convenient to have a few bags around when doing quickly potting. In my area the sale is good thru 4/17. Don't know if a national or regional special.

Oyyyy!! Doesn't the fact that it says for inground use only and NOT for containers tell you something??

Garden soil is NOT the same as potting soil and the two cannot be used interchangeably expecting the same results. Potting soil - or anything used to fill containers, planters with a solid bottom and hanging baskets or window boxes - has rather exacting requirements that are not satisfied by "garden" soil. It doesn't even come close!! You will find countless discussion on this issue on the Container Gardening forum and just about any other source that discusses gardening in containers. Even the MG garden soil is not intended as a stand alone product but as an amendment to existing inground soil.

There is a very good reason this product is labeled the way it is with instructions not to use for containers but whatever..........

G/gal, normally I'm respectful of labels but I've had experience getting info from Scotts and their answers are short of idiotic. Not one person here posted that they bought this brand and their potted plants died. Not one person posted that their plants were gynormous, either. That's a 50/50 chance of survival and I'm willing to take the chance,. As I said, I won't be too proud to admit defeat uf my plants don't do well. Then, somebody with the same question as I posted here will have actual experience data. Just think about the Scott packaging:. It says ALL PURPOSE (AP includes containers, no?), and then in tiny almost unreadable letters it says excludes potted plants. Either they are idiots for how they display info or the exclusion is not that significant.

"All purpose" only means that is a slightly different formulation than their Garden Soil for Flower and Vegetables or their Garden Soil for Trees and Shrubs. "All purpose" does not automatically assume that it can be used for ANY purpose and the inclusion of 'garden' on the label would direct you to the intended use of this product in the garden, not in containers.

btw, the MG website and product description also make clear indication of this product NOT being used in a container. Are they "idiots"?? Possibly.......not too many serious gardeners are enamored with MG soils of ANY description regardless of bargain pricing.

Having said that, for a single growing season - which I expect that's what you intend for your hanging baskets - just about any type of soil, garden or potting, can make do. But many of us are not satisfied with 'making do' but expect something more. Just pay close attention to the watering. Miracle Gro potting soil has a well-deserved reputation for being exceptionally moisture retentive (as well as premature collapse). Their garden soil would pose even more of a risk in that regard.

GG is right on this. Also, an msds is not the place to get a product description in terms of intended use. I'd read the bag or the Scott's website first. Anyway it may work for you or not, but when I saw the picture at the top of this thread that said "equal parts organic matter and TOPSOIL" and "FOR IN-GROUND USE" it was pretty obvious this product would not be recommended for pots. You wouldn't go to a gas station and put diesel in your gasoline engine. Same brand but different products for different uses.

I hope your plants do well but in any case get the other stuff next year.

Happy growing.

Tox, point me to the part where it says topsoil. I'm somehow missing it. Right about wrong diesel being disastrous to a non diesel car but just b/c somebody eats an occasional sugar laden donut, it doesn't mean he/she are going to die. One can have extreme arguments pro / con issues and the safest, sensible point is usually somewhere in the middle.

Bossyvossy,

That's a beautiful basket!

I'll go look at the bag in the trash.

So..... after 5 years, how did the stuff do? Did you have to admit defeat, or should I be on the ready to run to Lowes for some Perlite? Same thing happened to me. I finished getting all my pots filled up, and upon sealing the remainder of the bag, I saw the warning stating not for containers.

I just wanna use this to start my corn seeds this year since Squirrels run rampant through my yard. They love finding my hard work and eating it all in one single day. I've come too far and can't return the bag, so please tell me it worked out fine for you. (And if G/Gal is on here, please don't become irate at MY ignorance and use of whatever soil "I" bought MYSELF! You can have opinions, but belittlement won't be tolerated. 😠)

After 5 years I wouldn't expect much. Even high quality custom container potting media will have deteriorated significantly in 5 years and a garden soil amendment (and that is what this is) is unlikely to hold up nearly as well as that.

However, as I pointed out previously upthread, "for a single growing season just about any type of soil, garden or potting, can make do." But it is just that - "making do". Don't expect the same kind of productivity and performance using this in place of a proper potting soil. You can add perlite of you like but it won't make much of a difference. And pay very close attention to watering, as this is where any MG soil tends to fall down.

btw, I think they must have changes the label since this thread started, as it now has a large banner under the All Purpose Garden Soil title stating in caps FOR IN-GROUND USE. And both product labels and MSDS are available at Scotts for any of their MG soils or fertilizers. That is a Federal requirement.

Maneul, Was anyone belittled? Was anyone irate? Maybe you imagined that. Are you always a little dramatic?

It was highly annoying of the original poster to pretend (over and over) that anyone ever said that her hanging basket would die using the wrong soil. What people tried to explain to her is that she'd have better results using the correct medium.