Bagged topsoil

Can anyone recommend a good quality topsoil sold in manageable bags?
I've given up on buying compost this year as the quality of what I've bought is very poor (fibrous and grey in colour) so I tried topsoil which I haven't even seen for sale before and now it's been in for about 6 weeks perennial weeds are appearing. I'm sure it's the topsoil as so far I've only used it in 4 tubs and the weeds aren't local to my garden or my neighbours and they're not anywhere else including other tubs I planted on the same weekend using my own garden soil.

I'm looking to use it in tubs where I just want to plant up young stuff in preparation for moving them to my daughters new garden when she moves in a few months time.

Any ideas, don't mind paying for quality. Thanks

 

http://m.wickes.co.uk/mt/www.wickes.co.uk/top-soil-25l/invt/200247/
http://m.diy.com/mt/www.diy.com/nav...itres-11907576?&action=detail&un_jtt_redirect
I've used both of these and they are pretty good.

 

Thanks Catztail, I'd have to do a 60 mile round-trip for Wickes but there's a B&Q not far from where I work. Will see if they have any.

 

If you buy top soil you have to buy STERILE TOP SOIL, which is expensive compared to MPC

I must agree most of the MPC that has been sold by the sheds this year, although badged different, were all the same, woody material and rubbish with the exception of Lidl's guardial bags which were very good

Good luck, a recomendation from a GC member is worth more than any advertising so I am sure Catztails recomend will be fine

Jack McH

 

Thank you Jack! I've been mixing it with multi purpose for my pots this year.3 scoops multi to 2 scoops topsoil. I've had pretty good results with it. I also dig some in when I plant anything in my borders.

 

A few years back, I bought some topsoil(bagged) from B&Q. As far as I'm concerned, it was really good stuff. I see they've now been re-branded, Verve. I can't say that I've tried the re-branded stuff, but I imagine it should still be the same.

Cheers...Freddy

 

My Verve compost this year from B&Q, as far as I know, was the same as previous years' stuff from B&Q (in my opinion, anyway).

 

Yes I'm using Verve compost this year too. I've tried 3 other kinds that were very woody. The Verve stuff is what the others were last year!
Speaking of this....... my Hubby is working at a place that makes all these composts.(OMG he comes home and does he STINK!!) He's going to bring some home one of these days as he gets a discount. It will be interesting to see the quality.

 

I think there must be ONE supplier to all the sheds, because to be honest own brand MPC bought this year from ASDA, MORRISONS, B&Q, HOMEBASE were identical down to the same pieces of wood and wire within them
ALDI and LIDL was excellent stuff

Jack McH

 

Never tried it though but heard that it is good stuff.
Recently dug mole hills are a good

 

I swear by B&Q/Verve general purpose compost. I've also used their topsoil and found that to be good too

 

I think we are talking about two very different substances here.

Top soil is just that, soil usually skimmed off the top of a building site before work begins.
It can contain all kinds of weeds/seeds so might be OK if you want to fill a new bed, but not much use in containers.
The bagged stuff might be sterilized, but it will cost more.

The compost sold in bags is really mostly organic matter, and not intended to last for long, one season maybe, after that it rots down and starts to disappear.

John Innes compost is soil based, complete with fertilizers to last a few months.

You take your choice and you pay for what you get.

In most cases.

 

Try freecycle. With no-one buying, people are improving their homes by extensions and there may be topsoil available. Tony (cheers).