Knowledge from Olle Garden Bed: 7 Reasons to Use Topsoil in Gardens
As an avid gardener, you should constantly try new ways to improve the appearance and health of your garden. One way to achieve this is to use topsoil. If you have never heard of it, topsoil is the 2 to 8 inch deep surface of soil that you can find in a garden, yard, or field. The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.
It is valuable for gardening because it is composed of a large number of organic substances and microorganisms, which can enrich the soil and is very suitable for cultivation. At this depth, the soil absorbs water, the plants obtain nutrients, and sunlight supports the growth process. So let's look at the unique benefits of using topsoil in gardens!
- Mix with compost
Composting is the perfect way to reduce household waste and provide plants with soil that contains a lot of nutrients. If you don't want to expand your budget, you can build many cheap and simple DIY compost bins - it's easy to make your own compost at home.
However, most compost is made of organic matter, water and bacteria, and your garden needs soil that can be used as a compost bed. Due to the similar content of nutrients and materials, topsoil is a good choice because it can be well blended with your compost.
- Repair the damaged lawn
The last thing you want to happen in your garden is a damaged lawn. If it is uneven or has some patches, topsoil can easily solve these problems. All you have to do is spread two inches of topsoil on these surfaces and smooth them with a shovel. The topsoil contains a lot of nutrients, so when it is distributed in these spaces, your grass has a better chance to grow strong, healthy and green.
- Help flowers thrive
If you want your flowers to thrive in their beautiful colors, consider adding topsoil! Flowers absorb nutrients from the soil. As you have learned, the topsoil is full of nutrients. Flowers need nutrition, especially after a long and cold winter; Adding topsoil at the beginning of spring can provide additional power to your plants. You can also mix it with compost for best results. Spread this mixture on the garden beds and let it work its magic!
- Improve drainage
Poor drainage may be the curse of many gardeners, so if you don't want your plants to drown in heavy rain, topsoil can also help you solve this problem. When the soil is dense, drainage problems can affect your garden. Because of this, water can not soak into the root smoothly.
The next time you find puddles after rain, please cover them with sandy topsoil. Put the new sandy mixture into the original soil and see what happens! It will improve the drainage of the soil and make the water cycle continue.
- Promote the creation of new gardens
When you think of creating a new place in the yard to grow flowers, vegetables or herbs, it's good to have some topsoil on hand. If you have a poor quality area, building a new garden can be a challenging task. However, after deciding where to start planting new crops, place several layers of newspapers, smear them with a mixture of compost and topsoil, and water them regularly. After a period of time, everything will start to decompose, making this place very suitable for growing anything you want!
- Prevention of drought
Living in hot and dry areas makes it more difficult to grow plants. Therefore, in order to protect your crops from drought, please always keep some topsoil in your shed.
By applying topsoil to plants, you can lock in water that drains into the soil, reducing its evaporation. Thanks to this, even in dry times, the roots can keep moisture.
- Reduce erosion
Planting gardens on slopes in areas affected by heavy and frequent rainfall will lead to severe erosion. To protect your soil from being washed away, you will need plants with strong roots that can keep your soil in one place. As the roots need a lot of nutrients to grow, please provide them with a layer of topsoil. Now your garden will be less affected by erosion!
Most important of all
If you are seriously considering planting plants, having a healthy garden should be your first task. In order to keep it in optimal condition, topsoil is used. It is the first two to eight inches deep top of the soil, with the most nutrients and organic matter. It can help you repair damaged lawns, reduce erosion, improve drainage, make plants grow stronger, and protect them from drought. Add it to your arsenal today and see for yourself how it will benefit your garden!