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 Much Does a Yard of Topsoil Cover?
How Much Does a Yard of Topsoil Cover?. Good topsoil is loose, well-draining and full of organic matter. Without it, plants fail to thrive.Topsoil is often missing from a newly constructed home's yard; construction crews may have carted it away during the construction process. Topsoil may be absent entirely from rocky, mountainous home sites. Plan...
Good topsoil is loose, well-draining and full of organic matter. Without it, plants fail to thrive.Topsoil is often missing from a newly constructed home's yard; construction crews may have carted it away during the construction process. Topsoil may be absent entirely from rocky, mountainous home sites. Plan to add at least 6 inches of topsoil to very hard, poor sub soils.
Coverage
One yard of topsoil will cover 324 square feet of soil, spread at a depth of 1 inch, or 100 square feet of soil spread at a depth of 3 inches. To calculate how much topsoil you'll actually need, multiply the number of square feet in the area by the number of inches of topsoil you want to install. Divide that number by 324. For example, if the space is 500 square feet and you want to install 6 inches of topsoil, the equation would like like this: 500 x 6 = 3,000, divided by 324 = 9.2 yards of topsoil.
Square Feet
To figure the square footage of your area, measure the width and length of the space. Add a few extra feet for irregular, curved areas. Multiply the width by the length to get the square feet.
Buying Topsoil
Before you buy topsoil, inspect it and ask questions. Find out where it came from, if it has been sifted, and if it contains any amendments. Many topsoils are amended with compost or manure, but avoid using topsoil containing biosolids on vegetable gardens. These products may contain heavy metals or chemicals. Moisten the topsoil and squeeze it. Good, loamy topsoil crumbles in your hands. Clay soils become sticky and compacted, while sandy soils feel grainy and dry. Ask for the results of a soil test or test a small amount yourself to determine the pH of the soil and organic matter content. This process may seem unnecessarily labor intensive, but topsoil is a major investment in your yard. Buying good topsoil saves you time and money later because plants grow more quickly and are healthier. The most economical way to buy large quantities of topsoil is in bulk through a landscaping company.
Installing Topsoil
Spread the topsoil over the surface of the yard, removing any rocks or debris as you work. Add 2 to 3 inches of compost or rotted manure to improve the texture and drainage. Till the topsoil and soil amendments into the existing soil to a depth of 8 inches. Rake and allow the soil to settle for at least one week before planting.
