Alright, let me walk you through how I recently sorted out getting some topsoil. The backyard needed some serious help, especially the patches where I wanted to plant some new stuff.
Figuring Out What I Needed
First off, I realized I couldn’t just use any old dirt. I’d heard people mention loam soil being the best bet. Apparently, it’s got good stuff in it for plants, holds nutrients, but also drains well so you don’t drown your plants. Sounded like what I needed for most things I was planning to grow.
Then came the question of how much. I wasn’t just filling a couple of pots; I had a decent sized raised bed to top up, maybe a 4×8 foot one. I did a quick bit of asking around and some rough math. Someone mentioned that for a bed that size, if you want it about a foot deep, you’re looking at needing something like 24 cubic feet of soil. Good starting point, helped me estimate.
The Hunt for Local Soil
Okay, so I knew roughly what type and how much. Now, where to actually buy it nearby? My first thought was simple: ask the folks next door. Sometimes the easiest way is just finding out where your neighbors got theirs, especially if their yards look good.
After chatting with a neighbor, I still wanted more options. So, I spent some time on my computer. Didn’t need anything fancy, just searched for things like “landscape supply near me” or “garden soil local delivery”. You get a list of places in the area pretty quick.
- Checked the big box hardware stores first. They have bags, convenient maybe, but when you need a decent amount, those bags add up fast. Pricey.
- Visited a couple of local nurseries or garden centers. Better quality sometimes, often more knowledgeable staff. Prices can vary wildly though.
- Looked into bulk suppliers. These are the places that sell it by the cubic yard, often delivered by truck. Usually the cheapest way if you need a lot, like for filling multiple beds or leveling a big area.
Making the Choice and Getting it Done
I made a few phone calls to compare prices for bulk delivery versus buying bags. For the amount I needed, bulk delivery from a local landscape supply company made the most sense financially, even with the delivery fee. Way less hassle than lugging dozens of bags from the store.
They had a few types. I didn’t go for the super fancy expensive stuff. They had a general-purpose grade topsoil. The guy there said it was good for making new beds, prepping for a lawn, that kind of thing. Said sometimes people mix it with a bit of sand depending on what they’re doing. It sounded good enough for my project.
Scheduled the delivery. The truck showed up a couple of days later, dumped the pile right on the tarp I’d laid out. Much easier than breaking my back hauling bags.
So, that was my process. Started with needing dirt, figured out the ‘what’ and ‘how much’, did some searching both online and driving around, compared bagged vs. bulk, and finally got it delivered. Took a bit of effort, mostly just calling around and comparing, but got it sorted in the end. Now the real work of spreading it begins!
