My Front Yard Has No Topsoil

Benefits of Topsoil

• Topsoil is the first layer of earth. It is dark, loose and full of organic material. Good topsoil provides plants with the nutrients they need, and it also holds moisture well and allows oxygen to flow freely. The subsoil found underneath the topsoil usually has more clay, salt or lime. It is often hard and difficult to work. Some subsoils are better than others. Before you haul in costly topsoil, dig up some of the subsoil and send it to a commercial lab or university extension for a soil test. If the subsoil is fairly low in salts and has a pH level between 5.5 and 7.5, you may be able to salvage it by tilling in lime, manure, compost and peat moss. Ask the soil test company for recommendations on amendments and amounts.

Buying Topsoil

• Although topsoil is sold in bags at nurseries and home centers, buy it in bulk at landscape supply companies for large projects. Bulk soil is more economical and landscaping companies can deliver a large supply to your yard. Inspect topsoil before you buy it, though. Topsoil isn't regulated and what you are buying may not be topsoil at all but subsoil. Look for soil that is screened and free of rocks, debris or trash. Feel the soil. It should feel loose and soft, neither grainy or sticky. If it clumps together when you squeeze it, it is probably clay soil, which is difficult to till and is too heavy to provide good drainage for plants. Soil that looks sandy or feels grainy doesn't hold water or nutrients well.

  Consider buying a small amount of topsoil and sending it to a university extension or commercial lab for a soil test. The soil test analyzes soil pH, salt levels and heavy metals, ensuring that you are buying a quality product.

Amounts

• To determine how much topsoil to buy, first figure the area by measuring the width and length of your lot; multiply the length times the width to get the square feet, or area. Decide how many inches of soil you need to add to the yard. If your subsoil is reasonably good, you may be able to get away with 4 inches of topsoil. Add 6 to 8 inches of topsoil to poor subsoil. Divide the number of inches you need by 12; multiply that number by the square feet of your lot to get the total number of square cubic feet of soil needed. Most bulk soils are sold in cubic yards, rather than cubic feet. Divide the number of cubic feet needed by 27 to get the total cubic yards needed. As a general rule, 1 cubic yard covers 100 square feet with 3 inches of topsoil.

Considerations

• Purchased topsoil may already contain compost and soil amendments, but you will most likely need to add additional amendments. Lay 2 to 3 inches of compost, manure or peat moss over the soil and till it in to a depth of 8 inches. These amendments improve drainage, add nutrients and encourage the growth of microorganisms that benefit plants. Replacing and improving topsoil is expensive and time consuming, but will save money later. Plants grown in good topsoil are healthier, more vigorous and require less water and fertilizer than those grown in poor soil.