You can master container gardening easily, as long as you choose the right garden soil.
The soil from your own backyard is far from ideal for garden planters. The restricted environment means the growing medium must provide adequate air circulation and proper drainage. Here in Utah, our poor native soil is more likely to do the opposite. Plus, it may contain weed spores and pests, which can further inhibit growth.
If you want to flex your green thumb to the fullest, experts recommend using a quality garden soil. Here are some tips on choosing a potting mix that will help you achieve container gardening success.
What to Look for in a Garden Soil
The right soil for container gardening is one that can anchor plants firmly in place, while also giving them the nutrition, moisture and air that they need to thrive. An organic, compost-based potting mix is a smart choice, as these products are specifically formulated to encourage healthy, robust growth.
When shopping for soil, look for a potting mix that has a uniform consistency and contains plant-friendly ingredients like perlite, black peat and well-aged compost. The beneficial microbes within this type of blend can help get your garden planters off to a great start.
What You Don’t Want in a Garden Soil
For the best chance at container gardening success, experts say to skip any potting mixes with added fertilizers and chemicals – go with an organic product instead. And, make sure you avoid heavy soils. Instead, choose a lightweight growing medium designed for use in garden planters.
You should also steer clear of deeply discounted products. Bargain-priced soil may seem like a good value, but cheap potting mixes often contain a large percentage of sand and/or dirt -- and they’re usually lacking in both nutrition and composition. So, saving a few bucks may end up costing you the health and beauty of your container garden plants.
Finding a High-Quality Garden Soil
If you’re new to the world of container gardening and want to quickly go from greenhorn to guru, your choice of soil can make all the difference.
To hunt down the best potting mix for garden planters, you could head from store to store, reading bags and comparing products. Or, simply turn to The Dirt Bag.
The Dirt Bag is not only a leading northern Utah landscape material supplier – we’ve also created an organic potting mix that’s perfect for container gardening. Called Garden Soil Plus, the blend is designed to absorb and retain moisture, while allowing for proper drainage and air flow. Really, it’s the optimal choice for garden planters.
For more information on our bagged and bulk landscape materials – or to schedule to-your-door delivery of our Garden Soil Plus – contact The Dirt Bag in West Jordan, Utah, today.
FAQs
The right soil for container gardening is one that can anchor plants firmly in place, while also giving them the nutrition, moisture and air that they need to thrive. An organic, compost-based potting mix is a smart choice, as these products are specifically formulated to encourage healthy, robust growth.
What kind of soil should I use for container gardening? ›
The right soil for container gardening is one that can anchor plants firmly in place, while also giving them the nutrition, moisture and air that they need to thrive. An organic, compost-based potting mix is a smart choice, as these products are specifically formulated to encourage healthy, robust growth.
What vegetable soil to use for container gardening? ›
A lightweight soil that holds nutrients and moisture, yet drains well, is essential for good results. Garden soil is too heavy for use in containers. Soil substitutes consisting of mixtures of peat moss and sand or perlite or vermiculite, amended with lime and fertilizer, work very well.
Do you use garden soil or potting soil for grow bags? ›
Grow bags require well-draining soil that retains just enough moisture so the root mass will not dry out between waterings. Bagged products labeled as potting soil or container mix are ideal. Many potting soils contain peat moss but more and more mixes are now using coir (coconut fiber) instead.
What is the difference between garden soil and container soil? ›
Potting mix is meant to stand alone, as opposed to being mixed in with existing soils. It is a self-contained product designed to provide potted plants with everything they need to grow and thrive. Garden soil is meant to be spread around. Mix garden soil in with your native dirt to improve it.
How to prepare soil for container gardening? ›
- Choose a quality potting mix with good drainage.
- Use containers with drainage holes.
- Sterilize soil if desired.
- Optionally, add amendments like perlite or compost.
- Fill containers, leaving space for watering.
- Plant at the recommended depth.
- Water thoroughly after planting.
- Mulch for moisture retention (optional).
Combine garden soil and aged compost with sand or perlite for an adequate growing medium. The goal is a mix loose enough to drain well but still hold moisture and provide nutrients. Two cubic feet of planting mix fills three 5-gallon buckets.
What kind of soil for tomatoes in pots? ›
Soil. Use a high-quality soilless potting mix, which can contain perlite, vermiculite, peat moss, bark or coco coir, all of which help to lighten the soil. Garden soil is too heavy and compacted for container use, preventing air, water and nutrients from reaching the root zone.
What is the best soil mix for vegetable planters? ›
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.
What veg is best for container gardening? ›
Some of the more popular container crops are salad greens, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes, beans, chard, beets, radish, squash, and cucumbers. More challenging crops include melons, corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes. The key is to experiment. Look for “bush” or “dwarf” varieties of the crops you want to grow.
The cons of fabric grow bags
Because there is so much exposure to the air, the soil can dry out much faster than it does in a terra cotta, wood, or stone container. This means your plants will use more water, which means you'll need to water them more often.
Is it OK to use garden soil as potting soil? ›
Can You Use Garden Soil as a Substitute for Potting Soil or Vice-versa? Yes, you could use either garden soil or potting soil to grow outdoor plants. However, potting soil is a better choice as a growing medium as it's specifically created to support plant growth.
How much soil do I need for a 10 gallon grow bag? ›
A: You'll need about 1.5 cubic feet for each 10 gallon Grow Bag.
What kind of soil is best for container gardening? ›
When growing plants in containers or raised beds, you need to pay special attention to the soil you use. Soil taken from your yard or a garden bed is too dense to use in a pot or raised bed. Instead, for containers, you'll want to use potting mix (also called potting soil), a lightweight and fluffy alternative.
Why should you avoid using standard garden soil in container gardens? ›
Standard garden soil is not suited for use in containers because it compacts easily and prevents proper aeration and drainage, causing plants to become stunted or even die. You must use a good potting mix instead – one that gives plants just the right combination of air, moisture, nutrition and support.
What is the best soil for a vegetable garden? ›
Types of Soil for Vegetable Gardens
Loamy Soil: The gold standard for most gardeners, loamy soil has a balanced mix of sand, silt, and clay. It retains moisture while ensuring good drainage and is rich in nutrients and organic matter.
What is the best soil mix for potted plants? ›
Most gardeners make potting soil by combining perlite or vemiculite with peat or sphagnum moss. Two other organic materials that you could add to your potting mix are leaf mold and compost, which offer a wide spectrum of nutrients.
What kind of soil do you use for pots? ›
Use High-Quality Potting Soil: Choose a premium potting soil specifically formulated for container or pot gardening, consisting of a balanced mix of peat moss, perlite, vermiculite, and composted organic matter.
Is there a difference between potting soil and potting mix? ›
Both potting mix and potting soil have their unique strengths—potting mix is great for providing superior drainage, while potting soil is nutrient-rich due to its composition, for instance. Here's when to use each growing medium.
What is the best soil for pots and hanging baskets? ›
A good quality, peat-free multipurpose compost is fine for a display that only has to last for one year. Adding some loam based compost, such as peat-free John Innes potting compost, will benefit long-term plantings, but be mindful of the additional weight it will add to your basket.
