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The Depth of Black Dirt to Grow Grass

Black dirt is commonly referred to as topsoil. Topsoil is the uppermost layer of earth composed over millions of years of climatic action on the rock in soil. The resulting chemical reactions decay organic material creating a soil texture that is well draining, porous and highly fertile. Topsoil or black dirt is considered optimal for plant health. The recommendations for black dirt depth differ for plants and grass.

  1. Depth Recommendations

    • Deep, good quality black dirt is important for good grass growth. A depth of 6 to 8 inches of fertile and well-worked topsoil is essential for lawns, according to Sara Williams and Hugh Skinner in "Gardening, Naturally." Shallow black dirt does not allow grasses to develop healthy or deep roots. Amending the topsoil with compost or manure provides additional nutrients.

    Obtaining Black Dirt

    • Purchasing black dirt from reliable sources ensures that the soil is free of chemical residues and weed seeds. Naturally processed topsoils are now rare and expensive. The materials sold as topsoil are often referred to as 3-way or 5-way mixes. These are composed of subsoil, sawdust, sand, manure and biosolids.

    Assessing Black Dirt Quality

    • Assess the quality of the black dirt before purchasing. There are no legal standards defining topsoil, and the composition depends on the maker and available materials during certain times of the year. Good black dirt is darker in color given the high level of organic material and has a loose, porous structure allowing for good drainage.

    Alternatives

    • Topsoil is sometime not available or expensive. The best alternative for topsoil in these cases is compost, recommends Penn State University turf extension specialist Pete Landschoot. Compost is readily available and is an inexpensive organic material source.

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Lawn Basics
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