Any time you stir up soil and water it, you'll get weeds – even if added soil was "clean." Weed seeds are typically throughout topsoil, and it's when they're brought close to the surface and watered that they germinate.
You certainly can use topsoil for potted plants, but that doesn't mean you should. If you do, your plant probably won't get the nutrients it needs, won't grow at the rate you expect and will be likely to die sooner. The best topsoil for vegetable gardens may not be topsoil at all.
Bagged topsoil can last for up to 8 years when stored properly. However, it needs to be amended with fertilizer or compost when applied to gardens. This helps enrich the soil with nutrients and organic material, creating a supportive environment for plant roots.
Over time, mulch will break down and effectively become topsoil but it shouldn't be used in lieu of topsoil. That said, while you could leave your topsoil uncovered, it is wise to cover it with mulch to avoid erosion from the rain and overheating from our hot sun.
Topsoil is dense with minerals and organic matter, which gives it a much darker color than other gardening soils. Some might argue that topsoil is the most valuable soil layer in your garden. Garden soil is used as an additive to replenish the nutrients and organic materials in your garden.
The ideal soil is new soil or topsoil. Light, sandy soil is the best type of soil to put on top of mulch because it allows water to penetrate fast to reach the plant roots or seeds. If you've clay soil, you can improve its texture by mixing it with sandy soil or adding organic matter.
The main disadvantages of topsoil are that it can be difficult to predict its quality, it may contain pollutants and weed seeds, and it can be expensive. The quality of topsoil can vary greatly depending on the region and the supplier.
Early spring is an excellent time to lay topsoil for both your lawn and garden. The soil is typically thawed, and temperatures are beginning to rise. This period is ideal because: The soil is often moist and workable after the winter season, making it easier to spread and level topsoil.
Those nutrients usually need to be replenished every so often for the healthiest growth, no matter which type of soil you have. This is especially true for the soil where you grow annual flowers and vegetables, which suck up a lot of nutrients to fuel their rapid growth.
Soil Depth is Crucial
Topsoil is typically thought of as the top 6 inches of soil. We recommend adding at least 2 to 3+ inches of topsoil and rototilling it 2 to 3+ inches into the existing dirt to get the recommended 6 inches depth.
Although it's possible for grass to grow through the topsoil, this can only be successful depending on the thickness of topsoil applied as a top dressing. Please note that before applying topsoil over existing grass, you will need to mow the turf first.
To start off you will need to clear the existing area before laying down your new soil. Then lightly turn over approximately the top 5 inches of the existing soil, this will loosen the ground and help make sure you get the best from your new topsoil.
There are pros and cons to both spraying and pulling weeds, and we have a good rule of thumb you can use when choosing a method. Hand-pulling is easier when you are focusing on a small area. Spraying weeds is ideal when you're dealing with a vast area or a loftier infestation of weeds.
This method works particularly well for people who want their organic matter out of sight while it is decomposing. A trench is also a good place to get rid of those weeds you have pulled up. If buried deep enough in the garden, the weed seeds won't be exposed to sunlight, and won't re-grow.
The major benefits attributed to the annual rite of tilling are that it aerates the soil; chops and kills weeds; and mixes in organic materials, fertilizers, and lime.
It can take 500 to 1,000 years for one inch of topsoil (the upper layer of soil containing the most organic matter and microorganisms) to form through the interaction of bedrock, climate, topography, and living organisms.
For the first 20 days, water as needed to keep the topsoil moist to a 3-inch depth. Do not allow the lawn to become soggy or let water pond. After 20 days, water three or more times a week during warm weather. In cooler weather, water once or twice a week.
FAQ About Topdressing
It's optional, but yes, you can fertilize before topdressing a lawn. If you decide to aerate, the fertilizer should be put down after you aerate and before you place the topdressing material. This extra fertilizer boost will help increase the turf's growth and health.
Consider this: half of the topsoil on the planet has been lost in the last 150 years due to erosion, unethical farming methods, compaction, loss of structure, nutrient degradation, and salinity. Loss of topsoil leads to the loss of fertile land, increased pollution, and sedimentation in streams and rivers.
Whereas topsoil is better suited for a wide range of projects, gardening soil usually fits more of a niche need, sometimes even plant-specific needs. Gardening soil is a combination of a mixture of soils and textures that is designed to target a specific type of gardening project.
In the last few decades, soil degradation has been sped up by intensive farming practices like deforestation, overgrazing, intensive cultivation, forest fires and construction work. These actions disturb soil and leave it vulnerable to wind and water erosion, which damages the complex systems underneath.
One of the best mulches to prevent weeds in your garden is wood chips, also known as wooden mulch. Wood chips, including graded fine bark or pine mulch, won't decompose as quickly as other mulch types, giving you a long-term solution to weed control.
Tips on Storing Topsoil and Compost
For long term storage, compacting the top layer of the pile will help against erosion, though the use of a tarp is still recommended. Of course, the best option is to avoid the need for storage in the first place.