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I purchsed some bags of topsoil 2 weeks ago. There were not cheap but also low quality. Then I'm thinking that purchasing a few yards from landscape company maybe a better idea. It turns out worse. I put the soil on some bare spots in my backyard lawn. After a few rain and a few sunny days, it hardened like "concrete", is that normal?
Can somebody recommend a company sell real topsoil? Thanks a lot!
"Topsoil" bought in bulk is usually clay-laden crap.
Many places that sell topsoil also have a mix that has high organic content - a landscaper's mix. Check out Mulch Masters, for example. I've used it many times. It's easy to work with - doesn't clump or harden, and plants love it.
Sorry to hijack the thread, but it kind of relates. I wrote a couple weeks ago about our new grass not growing. Well luckily from all the recent rain, it is! Never did put straw on it but am going to. But I was wondering, I have a couple bags of top soil. Could I use that on the red clay areas instead of straw? Would one be better than the other?
"Topsoil" bought in bulk is usually clay-laden crap.
Many places that sell topsoil also have a mix that has high organic content - a landscaper's mix. Check out Mulch Masters, for example. I've used it many times. It's easy to work with - doesn't clump or harden, and plants love it.
Thanks for the input! So the name of the soil is "Landscaper's mix"? I'm intended to use the topsoil to even my backyard lawn and help the overseeding seeds to grow. Shoud I choose the one with high organic content? By the way, the soil condition in my backyard is oweful with 90% of clay. I will love to improve the condition!
Thanks again!
Thanks for the input! So the name of the soil is "Landscaper's mix"? I'm intended to use the topsoil to even my backyard lawn and help the overseeding seeds to grow. Shoud I choose the one with high organic content? By the way, the soil condition in my backyard is oweful with 90% of clay. I will love to improve the condition!
Thanks again!
meimei88, we had a little conversation a week or two ago that addressed some of your questions. It may be a tad late to ideally redo your soil/grass, but do fertilize now what you do have, knock down the weed and crabgrass in the spring with any product that includes Dimension (Lowe's and Ace carry it), and get down a good place for your seed to live next fall. You can't have weed chemicals and grass seed competing, as the chemical does not distinguish.
If you need composted soil (volume) get the best stuff you can find. I was terribly disappointed with the "topsoil" garbage I had delivered by 2 firms this past year. It was all clay, and needed a lot of elbow grease to improve.
If you don't need a LOT of amendment then peat moss is very sensible. You need to work this organic stuff in so a slit-seeder is a must (in the autumn). Good luck!
Sorry to hijack the thread, but it kind of relates. I wrote a couple weeks ago about our new grass not growing. Well luckily from all the recent rain, it is! Never did put straw on it but am going to. But I was wondering, I have a couple bags of top soil. Could I use that on the red clay areas instead of straw? Would one be better than the other?
Oops, I meant garden soil. I have a couple large bags of Miracle-Gro garden soil I haven't used and was wondering if that would be ok to use on the red clay where the grass is finally coming up. Or do you think since the grass was already fertilized during the aerating and seeding that may be too much for it?
Quote:
Originally Posted by CHTransplant
Straw can be full of weed seeds. I'd avoid it if you can.
Oops, I meant garden soil. I have a couple large bags of Miracle-Gro garden soil I haven't used and was wondering if that would be ok to use on the red clay where the grass is finally coming up. Or do you think since the grass was already fertilized during the aerating and seeding that may be too much for it?
I doubt a thin layer of your garden soil covering the seeds would do any harm, and it would certainly be better than leaving them to dry out in the direct sunlight
Here are a few landscape supply places that carry excellent products. Be sure to read the description before buying and match the product to your needs (topdressing lawns, starting lawns, vegetable garden, fill, flower bed, trees and shrubs, etc., and more importantly, if you can, go check it out before you have it delivered or loaded. Try compost if you are topdressing, compost is organic, topsoil is not.
These five are all in the same area near Capital Blvd/Hwy 1 and 540 in Raleigh...
If you get topsoil, be sure it's screened. You don't want chunks of debris, etc.
If you get compost, you'll pay more for certified and the stuff from the city contains trash debris like plastic as all the yard waste residents leave at the curb goes to the city's compost.
Last edited by cstleddy; 11-05-2009 at 02:43 PM..
Reason: Added the 5th place
Straw can be full of weed seeds. I'd avoid it if you can.
CHTransplant is sooooo right. Sometimes the weeds in the straw grow better than the grass seed.
A landscaper friend told me to get PennMulch for grass seeds. It's pelletized newspaper with fertilizer, special polymer coating, etc. and excellent results, unfortunately, I've not been able to find it around here. Perhaps it's only available to the golfcourse, ball field, commercial trade.
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