How to Buy Top Soil, Compost, or Mulch in Bulk?

From landscaping redesigns to garden development and property maintenance, sometimes you need a lot of soil, mulch, or compost. Unfortunately, your local hardware store or garden center may not offer enough or the best prices.

It’s important to consider the options available, calculate the quantity required, and evaluate the costs, as well as the logistics of delivery. Purchasing in bulk often proves to be more economical, quicker, and ultimately, the best decision for your needs. Our Full Court Press offers invaluable tips and product recommendations to help you create the garden of your dreams!

Consider the 3 Major Soil Products

When working on landscaping, gardening, or any major project that involves soil products, it’s important to consider the three main components: soil, compost, and mulch. Each of these soil products has specific applications depending on your project.

Topsoil refers to the uppermost layer of soil, approximately 2 to 8 inches deep, and is the most fertile layer containing organic matter, minerals, and nutrients. You can use topsoil to top off your plant bed or mix it with organic material to enhance its richness. Compost is created from decaying plant and animal matter and is a nutrient-rich soil amendment.

It’s commonly added to topsoil, garden soil, or potting soil to enrich the nutrient content and promote better drainage in clay soil, as well as allow sandy soil to retain nutrients. Mulch can include a variety of materials such as wood chips, shredded yard waste, straw, and sawdust, and serves to cover the soil, retain moisture, and provide insulation. Mulch also adds visual appeal to a landscaping project and helps to suppress weed growth.

How to Buy Top Soil

1-Look for a Local Source

If you have figured out the specific soil products required, seek advice from professionals in your locality.

You can consult gardeners, specialists at garden centers, and your nearby cooperative extension.

The cooperative extension is a valuable resource as they aim to educate the community on agriculture and horticulture.

If you need to buy in large quantities, consult expert gardeners and hobbyists in your area, as they can guide you on the availability of resources closest to you.

2-Examine the Soil Products Before You Buy

It’s important to thoroughly inspect the product before purchasing it, even if you receive excellent recommendations.

Soil companies typically offer a variety of blends, including topsoil, lawn soil, garden soil, and compost/soil mixtures.

Some companies even allow for customized mixes, like a combination of 40% compost and 60% topsoil (which may come with an additional fee). For optimal garden soil, aim for a sandy loam that contains less than 15% clay and at least 5% organic matter.

The color should be dark, the texture should be crumbly and loose, and it should have some moisture without forming a hard ball in your hand. While professional soil testing is an option, it can be time-consuming and costly (upwards of $100), some companies may provide soil analysis or certification instead.

Good topsoil and compost should have a pleasant earthy smell, and a crumbly texture, and not include any coarse, chunky bits. Newly-made compost may have some heat, but it should not be too hot.

3-Soil Characteristics

How to Buy Top Soil

If you’re looking for topsoil for your garden, there are a few things you should consider.

First, check its pH level, which ideally should be between 5.5 and 7.5. If this information is not provided, you may need to test it yourself.

Second, find out the organic content of the mix, including what kind of compost is used.

Yard and leaf waste compost are neutral, while manure-based compost can add a lot of nitrogen that may not be suitable for all plants.

Third, pay attention to the soil texture, which refers to the mineral particle sizes of sand, clay, silt, and loam.

Too much clay (more than 40%) can cause soil drainage problems, while too much sand (more than 70%) can make water run through the soil too fast.

Fourth, make sure the soil goes through a screening process that removes rocks, litter, and clumps of clay. Finally, ensure that the soil is at least 98% weed-free to avoid unnecessary weeding work.

Determine How Much You Need

Cubic yard measurements are used when selling bulk soil, compost, and mulch. To determine the number of cubic yards required for different planting depths, refer to the depth of soil calculation chart provided below.

Here’s how you can use it: Firstly, measure the area or square footage of the space to be covered by multiplying the length and width. Then, decide on the desired depth of mulch and select the corresponding number of inches of coverage on the chart.

Next, find the corresponding square feet/cubic yard value. Finally, divide the square footage of your garden by the square feet/cubic yard number to get the required amount in cubic yards.

How to Buy Top Soil, Compost, or Mulch in Bulk?