Is this topsoil?

Hi there, I'm new to gardening and to this forum. I've just bought some topsoil, which I was hoping to use in raised beds... but what's arrived isn't quite what I expected.

Could the company have delivered subsoil to me by accident? I wasn't expecting there to be big stones (some as big as my fist) and bits of polythene bag in it.

It could just be my inexperience showing, but I thought it would be pretty much ready to plant into.

Thank you

 

Hi John - thanks for the welcome. I didn't think it was - but I've just called the company and they've fobbed me off. They said it came from a "virgin" field and was screened, and that I'm mistaken if I think any of the rocks are bigger than 40mm across. (I'm not, and they are.)

I don't think I'm going to get very far with these people. So I'm either:

* Going to have to seive all 5 tonnes of it to get rid of the stones and big lumps of clay - and add soil improver to it to give my poor plants a chance
* Or use it for more "structural" stuff in the garden like filling in dips and holes (of which there are a few)

Do you have any tips for buying topsoil another time, so I don't get stung again?

Thank you.

 

Here's a link for you that may be useful....

https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=375

Welcome to the Forum!

 

Thank you for that I should have done more research before I bought - but I never seem to have enough time. I wish my delivery looked like the soil in the RSH pic - I think you'd be hard-pressed to lay a lawn on what I've got. Oh well. Onwards and upwards.

 

Not a gardening comment, but a few financial thoughts.

If you paid by credit card and it cost more than £100, you can use Section 75 to get a refund from your credit card company as the 'topsoil' does not meet the requirements of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 (it's not of satisfactory quality and it's not fit for purpose).
http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/shopping/section75-protect-your-purchases
http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/regulation/sale-of-goods-act

If you paid by PayPal you can raise a dispute, again quoting the Sale of Goods Act 1979.
https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/paypal-safety-and-security

If you paid cash or by debit card, it's worth writing a formal-sounding letter or email to the company anyway and quoting the Sale of Goods Act 1979 at them and setting out your expectation of a prompt refund, as companies sometimes rely on consumers not knowing their legal rights. When someone shows they do know their rights, it can sometimes inspire action that they didn't otherwise intend on taking!

Good luck.

 

Welcome to Gardeners Corner

Certainly looks like a clayey mess to me.

You might be better off ordering some spent mushroom compost

 

Thanks all - unfortunately I paid by debit card over the phone, and there wasn't any paperwork involved (I know - daft of me). On their website they have a picture of a guy shovelling lovely-looking dark soil.

I'll look into mushroom compost - I didn't know about that. And "tilth" - that's a great word I've never heard that before today Hopefully my next post will be a happier one.