Bulbs
Flower Basics
Flower Beds & Specialty Gardens
Flower Garden
Garden Furniture
Garden Gnomes
Garden Seeds
Garden Sheds
Garden Statues
Garden Tools & Supplies
Gardening Basics
Green & Organic
Groundcovers & Vines
Growing Annuals
Growing Basil
Growing Beans
Growing Berries
Growing Blueberries
Growing Cactus
Growing Corn
Growing Cotton
Growing Edibles
Growing Flowers
Growing Garlic
Growing Grapes
Growing Grass
Growing Herbs
Growing Jasmine
Growing Mint
Growing Mushrooms
Orchids
Growing Peanuts
Growing Perennials
Growing Plants
Growing Rosemary
Growing Roses
Growing Strawberries
Growing Sunflowers
Growing Thyme
Growing Tomatoes
Growing Tulips
Growing Vegetables
Herb Basics
Herb Garden
Indoor Growing
Landscaping Basics
Landscaping Patios
Landscaping Plants
Landscaping Shrubs
Landscaping Trees
Landscaping Walks & Pathways
Lawn Basics
Lawn Maintenance
Lawn Mowers
Lawn Ornaments
Lawn Planting
Lawn Tools
Outdoor Growing
Overall Landscape Planning
Pests, Weeds & Problems
Plant Basics
Rock Garden
Rose Garden
Shrubs
Soil
Specialty Gardens
Trees
Vegetable Garden
Yard Maintenance
How to Add Topsoil to a Flower Bed
How to Add Topsoil to a Flower Bed. Adding topsoil to a flowerbed may be necessary to change the grade of an existing bed, to raise it slightly. While it's tempting to simply purchase a bag of commercially produced topsoil, you should understand what is in the mix before buying. The Louisiana State University Extension recommends purchasing a...
Adding topsoil to a flowerbed may be necessary to change the grade of an existing bed, to raise it slightly. While it's tempting to simply purchase a bag of commercially produced topsoil, you should understand what is in the mix before buying. The Louisiana State University Extension recommends purchasing a locally produced mix to ensure the materials function well with the existing garden soil in the area.
Things You'll Need
New topsoil
Tiller
3:1:2 ratio fertilizer
Inquire about the pH of the topsoil before you buy. Ideally, it should be around 6 or 7.
Till the existing soil to loosen it a bit. Put down a few inches of new soil and blend it with the existing soil. This will ensure a good transition between soils and allow plants' roots to more easily penetrate the layers.
Add the rest of the necessary soil to the bed. The LSU Extension recommends incorporating a 3:1:2 ratio fertilizer before planting in the altered bed. This will ensure adequate nitrogen if the organic matter isn't sufficiently composted.
Tips & Warnings
If you know your existing garden soil has very high or very low pH, test the pH at the start of every season to determine which soil amendments are necessary. You can test the soil with paper testing kits or send a soil sample to your local university extension office for a complete soil test and amendment recommendations.
