Which Soil is Best 💲🌋🧿️💲 Top Soil vs Garden Soil vs Potting Soil

Summary

This video provides a comprehensive guide to selecting the right soil for various gardening needs. It explains different soil types, including topsoil, triple mix, garden soil, and sand, and their appropriate uses. The video also covers soilless materials like compost, peat moss, and vermiculite, highlighting their properties and environmental impacts. Practical advice is given for different garden situations, such as containers, raised beds, and existing beds, emphasizing the importance of organic matter and proper soil management for optimal plant growth. The host also introduces a few favorite clematis varieties and shares additional resources for deeper soil science knowledge.

Takeaways

• 🛒 When buying soil, be aware that labels like 'topsoil' or 'triple mix' can vary greatly and may not be regulated, so it's important to inspect the soil or trust the supplier.
• 🏺 Topsoil is the nutrient-rich layer at the top of the soil profile, but stored topsoil can lose its organic matter and microbes over time, reducing its quality.
• 🌱 Triple mix is typically a blend of soil, peat moss, and compost, but the ratios can vary, and it tends to shrink as the organic components decompose.
• 🌿 Garden soil can be misleadingly labeled and may not have a consistent composition, often lacking the quality of topsoil or triple mix.
• 🤔 Sand can improve soil drainage and ease of digging but doesn't contribute organic matter or nutrients, so its benefits are limited for plant growth.
• 🌾 Soilless materials like compost, peat moss, coco coir, vermiculite, and perlite are often used in soil mixes, providing air and water retention but varying in nutrient contribution and cation exchange capacity (CEC).
• 💧 High CEC materials like peat moss, coco coir, and compost are beneficial for holding nutrients, making them more available to plants.
• 🌳 For fixing low spots in the garden, topsoil is recommended over triple mix due to its reduced shrinkage over time.
• 🎍 In containers, a mix of garden soil, soilless mix, and compost can provide nutrients, moisture retention, and air, reducing the need for frequent watering and fertilization.
• 🌺 When creating a new garden bed, adding compost to the soil improves its organic matter content, which is crucial for plant health.
• 🌾 In existing garden beds, especially those with perennials, mulching with materials like wood chips or straw can increase organic matter and maintain soil moisture without disrupting plant roots.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video?

The main focus of the video is to educate viewers on selecting the right kind of soil for various gardening applications, discussing the differences between soil types, and providing recommendations for specific garden situations.

Why is it important to understand the differences between soil types?

Understanding the differences between soil types is important because different plants and gardening situations require specific soil properties for optimal growth and health. The right soil can provide necessary nutrients, drainage, and aeration for plants.

What are the common soil options mentioned in the video?

The common soil options mentioned in the video are topsoil, triple mix garden soil, and sand. Each has its own characteristics and is suitable for different gardening needs.

What is the problem with buying soil without knowing its composition?

The problem with buying soil without knowing its composition is that there are almost no regulations controlling what each type should be. This means that the quality and content of the soil can vary greatly, and you might not be getting what you expect or need for your garden.

Why is topsoil considered good for gardening?

Topsoil is considered good for gardening because it contains a high amount of organic matter, which is beneficial for plant growth. It is typically the dark, nutrient-rich layer found at the top of the soil profile.

What is the typical composition of triple mix soil?

Triple mix soil is typically composed of one-third soil, one-third peat moss, and one-third compost. This mixture provides a good balance of nutrients, aeration, and water retention for plants.

What are the issues with using sand in the garden?

While sand can help to lighten heavy clay soil and make it easier to dig, it does not add any organic matter or nutrients to the soil. Additionally, sand can lead to poor water retention and drainage if not used in the right proportions.

What are soilless materials and why are they used in gardening?

Soilless materials, such as compost, peat moss, coco coir, vermiculite, and perlite, are used in gardening because they provide water and air to the mix, improving soil structure and aeration. However, some of these materials do not provide nutrients and have different capacities for holding nutrients.

What is CEC and why is it important in soil?

CEC, or Cation Exchange Capacity, is a measure of how well a material can hold onto nutrients. It is important in soil because it determines the soil's ability to retain nutrients, making them available to plants when needed.

What is the recommended soil mix for container gardening according to the video?

The video suggests using a mix of 50% garden soil, 30% soilless mix (which could include peat moss), and 20% compost for container gardening. This mix provides nutrients, moisture retention, and aeration for plants.

How should you approach creating a new garden bed according to the video?

To create a new garden bed, the video recommends removing grass and weeds, adding compost to the soil to increase organic matter, mixing it in thoroughly, and then planting and mulching. This process enriches the soil for better plant growth.

What is the best way to maintain an existing garden bed?

For existing garden beds, especially those with perennials, trees, and shrubs, the video suggests adding compost and mulching to increase organic matter and maintain soil moisture levels, rather than adding more soil.

What are the considerations for filling raised beds?

When filling raised beds, the video recommends using a mix of topsoil and compost, as this combination provides a good balance of nutrients and structure without settling as much as triple mix soil.

Why is adding a thin layer of soil to existing garden beds not recommended?

Adding a thin layer of soil to existing garden beds is not recommended because it does not significantly improve the soil structure or nutrient content. Instead, adding compost, which has a high CEC and decomposes slowly, is a better way to enrich the soil.