Quick question... except for the odd bag of potting mix for transplants, I don't purchase garden soil (I 'build' my own) - so I may be a bit ignorant - but what is "The Big Yellow Bag"?

Ugh, thank you! This is what I feared... So understanding that I am going to need to go back and add some actual soil to the beds..... what do I do about all of the seeds I've planted? Just start over?

If that were mine, I would have some fun with the project. I would get some local dirt and mix it with the stuff you have and wait to see what sprouted and where. If two plants were too close together, you could dig them out and separate them. It would be cool to see things mixed up and not planted in traditional rows - something slightly more natural and random.

Fun!

I suspected the same thing stated above - that it was essentially organic matter (compost) and needed some mineral soil mixed in. They say it has 'a touch' which is not enough. Normally I recommend about 1/4 to 1/2 compost added to soil for a good garden mix.

I had to look it up because I haven't heard of this product either.

"BigYellowBag& Black Garden Soil is comprised of a combination of black loam, peat loam, very-well-decomposed manure and a touch of mineral soil. These ingredients encourage microbial activity, which aid in plant growth. This soil is specially blended to enrich and balance the local soil conditions found in each BigYellowBag® area. Approximately one cubic yard in size, the bags can yield enough soil for the average home’s use."

Notice how it says 'specially balanced to enrich...local soil conditions.' BUT the stupid bag says "Premium Black Garden SOIL" in big letters. C'mon guys, that's dumb IMHO.

Plants may be yellowing because the stuff is nitrogen deficient (woody stuff not completely composted - this will correct over time). You can use liquid fert to get plants going. The watering problem though...this stuff is so spongy that water evaporates very fast off the surface and drains fast out the bottom. Only fixable with mineral soil.

If possible you can try gently mixing mineral soil in around your little plants in hopes they will grow into it. Or lift them out (if they were originally potted, they will still have that root ball), set them in the shade, wet them down and dig in some soil, then replant. Seeds and tiny sprouts...you might be out of luck.

Thank you so much for all of your responses... The info on that site certainly appears to be misleading, at least to the untrained eye.

Thankfully many of the plants should still have their root ball intact, so this will just be another fun garden adventure! I think it's only been a couple of weeks since we've planted too... and less for the seeds. Probably should have had an earlier start but it has been pretty cold for May in Ohio until the past couple of weeks.

There's really no good soil here, maybe an inch and then just tons and tons of rocks until you finally get down to clay, so whatever it is I need to get to fix this, it's going to have to be purchased from somewhere..... Before I end up with the wrong thing again, what should I go out and buy to mix with this stuff? What should I be looking for?

Maybe you can contact a nearby nursery and ask about having topsoil delivered to your place. This is a common request and all they will need to know is where to dump it. It will be some work, but when you're done it will be right. Mix the BYB stuff into the top 5" of the topsoil. If there is excess BYB material, you can use it as a mulch.

Burying organic material deep into the soil backfires. It will continue to decompose but it will do so in an anaerobic environment (lacking air), leaving phytotoxic compounds in the soil. You want OM to decompose in your soil in the presence of air (Oxygen), where it will break down completely.

You'll get it right!

I would think adding a wetting agent to the soil would be more to the point, a quicker fix and might save you having to dig up your plants. If this material is shedding water, adding more "mineral soil" may or may not actually help.

As with the "soil" in that "Big Yellow Bag" before buying anything called "topsoil" or "garden soil" take a good look at what is offered. A good soil for a garden would be something like about 45 percent sand, 25 percent silt, 25 percent clay, and 5 percent organic matter and if sellers tell you that is not available shop around until you find it. The term "topsoil" is meaningless as this article points out.

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/the_shocking_truth_about_topsoil

Perhaps these simple soil tests may be of some help.

1) Soil test for organic
material. From that soil sample put enough of the rest to make a 4 inch level in
a clear 1 quart jar, with a tight fitting lid. Fill that jar with water and
replace the lid, tightly. Shake the jar vigorously and then let it stand for 24
hours. Your soil will settle out according to soil particle size and weight.
For example, a good loam will have about 1-3/4 inch (about 45%) of sand on the
bottom. about 1 inch (about 25%) of silt next, about 1 inch (25%) of clay above
that, and about 1/4 inch (about 5%) of organic matter on the top.

2) Drainage. Dig a hole
1 foot square and 1 foot deep and fill that with water. After that water drains
away refill the hole with more water and time how long it takes that to drain
away. Anything less than 2 hours and your soil drains’ too quickly and needs
more organic matter to slow that drainage down. Anything over 6 hours and the
soil drains too slowly and needs lots of organic matter to speed it up.

3) Tilth. Take a handful
of your slightly damp soil and squeeze it tightly. When the pressure is
released the soil should hold together in that clump, but when poked with a
finger that clump should fall apart.

4) Smell. What does your
soil smell like? A pleasant, rich earthy odor? Putrid, offensive, repugnant
odor? The more organic matter in your soil the more active the soil bacteria
will be and the nicer your soil will smell, to a point. Too much organic matter
can be bad as well.

5) Life. How many
earthworms per shovel full were there? 5 or more indicates a pretty healthy soil. Fewer than 5,
according to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, indicates a soil that
is not healthy.

The soil should be the single most important part of a garden and getting it right is imperative.

kimmq is kimmsr

Depending on how much topsoil you need, bags may be a better option. Price both. And what you're looking for is something that is clearly soil. It should be heavy and look and feed like soil. Not shredded organic matter, compost, etc. Poke a bag or find a torn one to confirm. Or ask the store staff for soil. Tell them you do not want garden mix or soil amendment but mineral SOIL.