
Common Myths and Misunderstandings about Topsoil
The common myths about topsoil are ‒ topsoil remains the same everywhere, lawn care doesn’t necessitate topsoil use, you can avoid tilling with topsoil, and garden soil can suffice for a raised bed, among others.
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You and others may have certain misunderstandings about topsoil. Before you head towards your gardening venture, you must have certain myths about topsoil cleared and learn everything you would require for it.
Myth #1: Lawn Care Does not Necessitate the Use of Topsoil
It’s a myth when you say that lawn care is free from the use of topsoil. However, it is common to see the benefit of topsoil on any lawn. You often notice too many patches in your yard where the grass fails to grow properly. Topsoil has solutions for this issue.
For growing the grass, you need to spread the topsoil all over the area for one inch deep. The soil evenly distributes grass seeds and allows the soil to combine. Topsoil helps enable you to spread the soil on your lawn, entering some inches deep. It helps allow the grass to grow underneath, reducing the depression.
The topsoil provides a fresh layer on your lawn, allowing the grass and plants to replenish the nutrient values from the said layer. The topsoil helps nourish the plants and composites the additional nutrients. Also, if you have a newly developed lawn, the topsoil plays an essential role in retaining moisture and slowing down the weed growth.
Myth #2: All Topsoil is the Same
Again a myth that people often believe. Topsoil differs dramatically even within the same garden. We know the lawn has soil made with sand, clay, and silt in different amounts. Allowing a good ratio of these three can help make a perfect drainage system in your yard as it carries a good moisture content.
Also, the pH value of the soil varies from one yard to another and even within your lawn. The types include acidic and alkaline. Hence, some plants, including bigleaf hydrangeas, remain more affected by others in the soil quality. It can even differ from one yard or garden to another.
Also, the topsoil comprises decomposed plant or organic matter, organisms and insects, including earthworms, water and air. Lastly, soil stores around 0.01 percent of earth’s total water within its pores.
Myth #3: You Can Avoid Tilling with Topsoil
It’s a big myth. The fact is you cannot avoid the process of tilling by opting for the topsoil. When you put topsoil, it only means that your soil is not naturally rich to support the grass or plants in your yard. It is always good to till the topsoil while putting the pre-existing soil for the best results.
Tilling your yard before you plan to add the topsoil can help make the yard rich and make it easy to work. Tiling makes adding topsoil to your yard simple. You can find the soils with different profiles; hence adding them with different water holding capacities can help move the soil without hassle. Tilling also adds fertility and richness.
Myth #4: Garden Soil will Suffice For a Raised Bed
This is a common myth when people believe that raised beds will only survive with garden soil. If you want your plants and flowers on your lawn to grow, you will require good quality and rich soil, containing rich nutrients and water to get a flourishing yard. On the other hand, garden soil will not suffice for the raised beds.
The reason is simple: garden soil is known to have the wrong consistency. Too much heavy clay or sand can prove fatal to flowers you have planted on your lawn, as these would remain in puddles of water. This can further cause issues like wilt and even plant death.
However, by doing it, you may not damage the new garden bed; all you need is soil with organic content for better results. The soil in your lawn may be poor in organic matter, and it will add nutrition to your new garden bed. It is always good to add a few inches of soil to your lawn, but make sure you do not depend on it.
Myth #5: It’s Difficult to Find Good Topsoil
This is false as topsoil is readily available through a wide range of sources. These include getting it from garden centers and local hardware stores.
However, whenever you plan to get the same, it should be screened, and it means that it comes without any extra materials (debris and small rocks) as these are removed.
Also, topsoil is sold in a bag in bulk quantity. If you have a bulk order, it will be priced by cubic yard, while the price varies according to availability and location.
Myth #6: Topsoil is a Fertilizer Substitute
It is yet another myth that is commonly found among homeowners. You may discover topsoil is a good blend of a healthy and nourishing base. However, you must use fertilizer, mainly when you have ordered a massive amount of topsoil.
Topsoil is not often appropriately fertilized when ordered in bulk. It means that you have to add some extra fertilizer to it. The reasons are apparent, and it is imperative to test the soil you have in the garden; hence you would know where you are lacking before you plan to add to any new soil.
However, if you get the topsoil in small quantities with quality, you will find too many nutrients in it, which the current soil is missing. The topsoil added will play some part. However, you still require fertilizer to some extent only to ensure that the grass and plants in your lawn get the needed nutrients.
Myth #7: Any Soil Can Be Used as a Topsoil
It is a myth that any soil can fit into a topsoil category. Although we know that topsoil is made up of different materials like silt, clay and sand, there are endless variations of the components that can hamper the soil in different ways.
You should know the ideal ratio of the soil, which makes perfect topsoil. The key ingredients of topsoil include 60 percent of sand, 15 percent of clay and 25 percent silt. Also, you should know that organic material carries all types of dead living matter. It will have an impact on plant growth in its unique ways.
What is the Importance of Using a Topsoil?
Topsoil helps promote some healthy growth along with breathtaking landscapes to enjoy. Let’s check the benefits of topsoil below:
- It protects the plant – Topsoil offers decent protection to plants and grass on your lawn surrounded by roots and top layers. It prevents the evaporation of water, which means the plants can quickly get the required water during the hot summer days.
- Rich in nutrients – Topsoil is made of organic matter and many nutrients, which plants can quickly get. However, you need to add fertilizer as per the quality of topsoil you have got for your yard.
- Healthy growth – You get ample water and oxygen for your plants. These elements make the plant in your garden stronger.
- Effective drainage – Topsoil offers a good drainage system in your lawn, allowing the plants to sustain even during heavy rainfall.
- Prevent Erosion – Topsoil prevents erosion, allowing the plants to sustain in different seasons.
- Environmentally friendly – Topsoil offers a healthy environment and employs organic matter from decayed plants. It prevents the use of chemical-based pesticides on your lawn.
Are There any Disadvantages of Topsoil?
Topsoil has a few cons too. We know that topsoil is made of different elements. Thus it is possible to see a higher percentage of clay or contaminants.
The pollutants will include perennial weeds, rocks and spilled fuels. They can adversely affect your yard, hampering your plants. Thus using high-quality topsoil can prevent the disadvantages of topsoil.
To conclude, the common myths about topsoil are ‒ topsoil remains the same everywhere, lawn care doesn’t necessitate topsoil use, you can avoid tilling with topsoil, and garden soil can suffice for a raised bed, among others. As you now know, these are false about topsoil. Contact Eden if you have questions about using topsoil in your yard or lawn.
Enjoy a beautifully manicured lawn with our timely yard work services that care for your yard according to the season. Call us today!