Garden Series: Choosing Between Topsoil and Potting Soil
- Shidonna Raven
- 2 hours ago
- 1 min read
By Tim Goodwin
April 16, 2025
Source: Almanac
Photo Source: Unsplash,
• 4:0
Choosing Between Topsoil and Potting Soil
The choice between topsoil and potting soil comes down to what you’re using it for:
Topsoil is for landscaping and outside uses. It is heavier and cheaper and is not sterile. If you are filling a hole or leveling out the ground, just get regular topsoil. (Or, sometimes you can find “fill dirt” from construction projects, but only use if you are reasonably certain it is free of soil-borne diseases, pests, and contamination.)
Enriched topsoil (topsoil + compost) is for actively growing plants. Garden beds, shrubs, and trees all need a rich layer of minerals and organic matter. Plan on 6 to 8 inches of topsoil. Grass lawns also need topsoil, though grass is shallow-rooted, so 4 to 6 inches of topsoil is ample.
Soilless potting soil, aka potting mix, is for containers and indoor use. It is sterile, lightweight, and more expensive. If you’re planting in pots, use potting soil.
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