For better, healthier landscaping in the spring, there's no better solution than adding an extra layer of topsoil in the fall.
Whether you're new to gardening, or a seasoned pro, building better soil is the single most important thing you can do to improve your gardening success. And fall is the best time to do it! To learn more, read Building Healthy Soil.
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.
Top dressing should be done annually or when you begin to notice common lawn problems like an uneven terrain, which is usually caused by water runoff, repeated freezing and thawing, tunneling critters or simply the settling of the existing topsoil over time.
Loss of Cropland
Fertile topsoil is a precious agricultural resource and some agronomists consider topsoil to be a nonrenewable resource. Once lost, topsoil renewal is extremely slow. In fact, it takes more than 100 years to replace 2.5 cm (1 inch) of topsoil once it is lost.
Many think that putting topsoil over the seeds would protect it, but in fact, that will actually suffocate the seedlings rather than doing any good. We suggest that straw, hay, or any other type of mulching material be used.
In general, use potting soil for container gardening, garden soil for planting in flower or vegetable beds (you have to mix it with existing soil), and topsoil for larger projects or if your lawn or garden is in need of greater soil volume (for instance, if there's been soil erosion from strong winds or heavy rains).
Top it off: If the level of soil has dropped, add fresh planting mix also known as potting mix. Ideally, the soil comes to within an inch or so of the rim of the planter or raised bed. Use a fork or hand tool to blend the new soil into the old soil. Blend new soil into the old soil.
Degraded soil makes growing food more difficult and expensive. Without healthy soil, farmers won't be able to grow nutrient-dense food to feed our growing population. The calculated loss in the region is part of a critical issue; some experts suspect that Earth will run out of usable topsoil within 60 years.
A constant, fresh supply of organic matter is necessary to keep it growing healthy. While routinely adding an extra layer of topsoil to your lawn can be helpful, fall is the most opportune time to do so. This is because the winter can be a particularly difficult time for the plant life on your property.
Aerate Your Soil Before Adding Topsoil
If left untouched, your soil can become compacted and too tight for nutrients and water to go through. One way you can help the soil regain health is by aerating it. Aeration is the process of making small holes in the ground to make the soil loose.
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.
You can apply topsoil anytime, but most gardeners like to add it in spring before planting. In the fall, it may also be added as a top dressing that will allow nutrients to break down into the soil. You may add topsoil into plantings by adding to the holes where shrubs are planted.
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.
Plants thrive in high-quality topsoil, but they struggle in bad topsoil. But since you can improve even downright terrible topsoil, it's in your hands to ensure you're only doing your plants good!
If plants died from bacterial, fungal or viral disease, then you definitely do not want to reuse the soil, as soilborne pathogens can still be present and active. However, if the plants that grew in the soil before were healthy, it is generally OK to reuse the potting soil.
Start by scraping away the top-most layer of 'crusty' soil, leaves, pine needles, or whatever else your containers have collected over the off-season. Give the soil beneath a quick turn with a cultivator. If the soil level has dropped, mix in potting soil or garden mix to fill the planter back up.
What is Garden Soil? Garden soil is just topsoil that has extra organic matter mixed in, like compost, peat, bark shredding, or fertilizer.
Other than just soil, topsoil is also made up of a mix of rocks, water, contaminants and other organic materials like plant roots, sticks and weeds. In it's raw state like this it isn't very useful, because these rocks, sticks etc will hold back the roots of new plants from sprouting and can restrict water flow.
In addition to beautifying your landscape, mulch helps prolong the life of your plants and keep your soil intact. Over time, mulch will break down and effectively become topsoil but it shouldn't be used in lieu of topsoil.
If you're looking for a short answer, then yes, you can put topsoil over grass and existing garden lawns. 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.
Usually, 8 inches of topsoil is needed to fill a new garden bed or raised bed. If you intend to add topsoil to your lawn, you will need approximately 4-6 inches of topsoil to give you the healthy lawn you desire.
Topsoil Uses Can Include Fixing Uneven and Patchy Lawns
You may even notice areas of your yard that are slightly uneven. Topsoil is a great remedy for both problems. To grow grass, simply spread topsoil across the area so it is 1 inch deep. Evenly distribute grass seeds and till the soil to combine.