Understanding whether to use topsoil or compost in your garden during August boils down to what purposes you have in mind. Both are excellent for a wide variety of projects around the garden, with August being an especially good month to enjoy the outdoors.
Here is a quick guide to using topsoil or compost in August.
Differences Between Topsoil and Compost
Topsoil and compost have similar traits, but have enough differences for them to serve different purposes. The primary difference is that topsoil has better structure and water retention, whereas compost is looser, drier and has a higher nutrient content.
When to Use Topsoil and Compost
Topsoil is better for use on larger areas of land, such as garden spaces or for landscaping projects, while compost is better suited for potted plants and flowers.
Topsoil has enough nutrients for general purposes, including lawn turf, grass plants, flowers, shrubs and even trees. It can be spread out over a much wider area and so is good for general gardening or landscaping purposes. A layer of bark chippings can be added on top to prevent weed growth, with the bark chippings eventually breaking down and adding even more nutrients into the top soil.
Potted plants have limited access to nutrients so using bagged compost makes sure they have plenty of everything they need to grow strong and healthy. The pot also helps keeps the loose compost compact enough for roots to take hold.
Mixing Topsoil and Compost
You can also mix topsoil with loose compost to boost the nutrient content. This is especially useful for growing demanding plants such as fruit and vegetables.
By mixing bagged compost with topsoil, both benefit from the advantages of the other. Just as topsoil gets a nutrient boost from the bagged compost, the loose compost blends with the more compact topsoil and acquires a firmer structure and better water retention.
Mixing loose compost and topsoil creates an ideal soil for roots to take hold and plants to thrive. It is not necessary to mix them together all over the garden, as the likes of lawn turf and grass plants won’t really need it, but mixing topsoil and bagged compost in those areas where you are growing bigger or more demanding plants is a good idea.
When to Use Topsoil
As topsoil will be less expensive than bagged compost, there are several August gardening projects that it is better suited for. These include laying large patches of lawn turf, where a priming layer of topsoil laid first will help the turf settle and the roots of the grass plants establish themselves. Alternatively, if you are growing lawn turf from seed, then a good layer of quality topsoil is perfect.
Topsoil should also be used to fill in large areas of bedding and borders or for levelling off parts of a garden.
When to Use Compost
Bagged or loose compost is better suited for smaller purposes and more localised projects, such as the aforementioned potted plants. It can also be used in smaller amounts to give certain plants and areas of topsoil a nutrient boost.
If you require topsoil for larger gardening projects, or bagged or loose compost for smaller gardening purposes, then contact Springbridge via our website or call today on 0845 370 1921 for more information.
FAQs
Topsoil is better for use on larger areas of land, such as garden spaces or for landscaping projects, while compost is better suited for potted plants and flowers. Topsoil has enough nutrients for general purposes, including lawn turf, grass plants, flowers, shrubs and even trees.
When to use compost vs topsoil? ›
Compost is usually used more as potting soil, a top-layer fertilizer to your plants, or to amend your current soil. Whereas topsoil is better for building up your soil level or as a landscape filler. In fact, many times when you order topsoil in bulk, what you get is dirt with some organic matter blended in.
Is compost better than garden soil? ›
Compost is also much richer in nutrients than topsoil, making it an ideal supplement for soil that is lacking in nutrients. Another difference between compost and topsoil is their use. Compost is most commonly used as a soil amendment, which means it is added to existing soil to improve its fertility and structure.
Can I mix compost and topsoil together? ›
You can mix compost with topsoil to create your own potting compost, as many of the nurseries do, which gives you the advantages of soil – namely that it dries out more slowly and holds its structure better – together with the benefits of compost – organic matter and more nutrients, a compost made with loam or soil is ...
Do raised beds need compost or topsoil? ›
A general potting mixture of three parts organic matter (such as garden compost, leafmould or well-rotted manure), two parts sharp sand and seven parts topsoil is sufficient for most raised beds. For alpines, bulbs and herbs, that like good drainage, double the proportion of sand.
What are the disadvantages of topsoil? ›
Pros and Cons of Topsoil
It can also provide a good base for new plants to grow in. However, topsoil may not contain enough nutrients for plants to thrive, and it may not provide adequate drainage. Additionally, topsoil can be heavy and difficult to work with, making it less ideal for container gardening.
Do you add compost or soil first? ›
Work 1–2 inches of compost into the top 3–5 inches of soil. Give your vegetable garden plenty of compost in the fall. Spread several inches of compost on top of the existing bed, then till it into the soil in the springtime.
Can you just put compost on top of soil? ›
Simply spread a thin layer of compost on top of the soil in empty beds in spring or autumn. Then allow the rain to wash the nutrients deep into the soil to your plants' roots. Heavy feeding plants and vegetables often benefit from a side dressing of compost during the growing season, too.
Does topsoil go on top of compost? ›
A well-dressed lawn or landscape will include layers of different materials that create an ideal environment for healthy growth. First is the topsoil, then the compost and, finally, a mulch to blanket it all. Topsoil is the layer of humus (partially decomposed organic matter) between the surface and the subsoil.
Which is better multi purpose compost or top soil? ›
Both compost and topsoil are used for providing nutrients and for growing or filling in parts of a garden, but they can have slightly different uses. The main reason for the difference is that topsoil is a more well-rounded soil option because of both the nutrients and structure it offers for plants.
Gardening magazine's trial of the best soil mixture for raised beds found that a blend of 50% topsoil, 25% coarse sand and 25% compost was best.
How to fill a raised garden bed cheaply? ›
Use the Lasagna Garden Method
To start, lay down sheets of cardboard or newspaper for weed suppression and then fill the raised bed structure halfway up with alternating layers of nitrogen-rich materials (like kitchen scraps and grass clippings) and carbon-rich materials (like wood chips and dried autumn leaves).
Can I fill a raised bed with just compost? ›
Don't fill raised beds with compost by itself. Fill beds with native soil or soil mix. Compost lacks the mineral component of earthen soil and planting mixes. Compost must be mixed with these materials to support plant growth.
Should I top dress my lawn with compost or topsoil? ›
How to Add Top Dressing to My Lawn. In the spring, apply 0.25–0.5 inches of top dressing after mowing your lawn low with compost, sand or topsoil. The best choice depends on your current soil and issues. Compost is a great all around option for both helping with drainage and providing organic material.
When should I add compost to my lawn? ›
You can topdress with compost at any time when the ground is not frozen, but if you topdress right after aerating a lawn, you will see even better results. Another great time to topdress with compost is when overseeding a lawn. Applying compost and seeds at the same time will improve germination and moisture retention.
Can I use compost to level my yard? ›
Typically compost topdressing is used to fertilize lawns. It is spread in a thin layer that grants nutrients to a lawn so it grows lush and healthy. You might get some light leveling benefits, but it typically isn't sturdy enough to fill in dips on a lawn permanently as it dissolves down.
