Buying topsoil advice

Discussion in 'Lawns' started by ric1982, Jul 27, 2020.

  1. ric1982

    ric1982 Apprentice Gardener

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    Hi,

    This is my first time laying new lawn in my garden. There were lots of rubble, stones and sand. It took us around 2 months to get rid of it. (doing it on part time basis). There is still some sand and stones left so we will need the top soil to improve overall soil quality.

    I have been browsing for buying topsoil. There are website who sells for £80 to £120 per bag (approx. 1 tonn per bag). I have enquired locally and there are some sellers who would deliver 10 ton loose soil for £250.00 !

    I was wondering what is so special about those online shops selling for those price. why so expensive?

    Any one has experince of buying loose soil locally? Are they any good?

    Any suggestion on good / reputable top soil supplier?
     
    Last edited: Jul 27, 2020
  2. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    It's been a very long time since I bought top soil for my garden when it was a Builders Dumping ground for all that they leave when building new houses but I would buy locally, ric.
    Can I ask how big your garden is? My first load of top soil of 92 tons was from a local supplier and not bad at all but only covered the garden with about an inch of soil and I had to order another 120 tons just to get 2 inches of uncompressed lose soil:dunno: To, be honest, top soil will be a help but you will need to add lots of manure and compost over the years to improve the fertility of the top soil as it alone is not the complete panacea for an instant garden.
    Buying locally will, hopefully, ensure that you will get a reasonable grade of top soil as the local trader has to survive on "word of mouth" rather than those online traders who can turn up drop tons of rubbish and disappear and who will be a lot harder to complain to should the top soil not be good.

    You would be surprised just how small a ton bag of soil is and that, in fact, how little ground it covers.:dunno::wallbanging: So, I would ask around to see if there is a good local Top soil firm and use them. But, as I said, top soil will help but is not an instant fix as it will take even more tons of manure and compost, over the years, to give that fertility you need.:cat-kittyandsmiley::coffee:
    Oh, and just a last note, although I cleared the site of all bricks, concrete, plastic sheeting, timber, broken tools, etc in the wasteland the Builders left when I bought the House, I'm still digging up brick and half bricks to this day!!:wallbanging::heehee:
     
  3. ric1982

    ric1982 Apprentice Gardener

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    Thanks

    The garden is 18 feet by 35 feet and I am looking to fill 5 cm with topsoil. While reading on this forum it looks like , the local cheap topsoil is like 'you get what you paid for deal'. People are saying about builders rubble, knotweed etc.
     
  4. ARMANDII

    ARMANDII Low Flying Administrator Staff Member

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    Which is why you check out the local suppliers and tell them what you want. I have a top soil supplier about 10 miles from me who's been in business for more than 30 years......and you don't last that long if you're supplying builders rubble etc:doh: Buy online is a bit of a gamble to say the least as you've got no guarantee what you're going to get.
     
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    • Graham B

      Graham B Gardener

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      Typically a bulk bag is a little under a cubic metre. Most places seem to reckon 0.9m^3. If you want 5cm depth over that area, you're looking at 3 bags full. (Black sheep not included.)

      Putting in extra height on your garden, do make sure you've got heights right for paths, patios and anything else where you can't change the height. If they're lower than the lawn, it could be a problem.

      Also do make sure you've levelled the subsoil before you put topsoil over it, otherwise you'll get a lot in one bit and hardly any in other places. Putting a slight gradient on the lawn is the big thing there, so that it drains and you don't get puddles in the middle when it rains. 0.5-1cm drop per metre is usual, and normally you'd want that sloping away from the house. It's a pain to set up (lots of short garden canes marked up appropriately) but you'll definitely appreciate it when it's all done.
       
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