How to Add Top Soil

Topsoil provides essential nutrients to plants.

Whether you're installing a new lawn or preparing a garden for various plants and flowers, adding topsoil is the best way to introduce elemental materials often lacking in the subsoil. Rich with nutrients, topsoil provides plants with essential elements for healthy growth. With a few gardening and care techniques, you can add topsoil to almost any home garden plot.

Things You'll Need

• Tiller
• Rake
• Compost
• Topsoil
• Watering hose

Instructions

1. Till or rake the area receiving the topsoil, removing all dead roots, vegetable matter and rocks. Break up the subsoil completely. If you have a large area, you may need to use an electric tiller.

2. Use a hoe to incorporate compost into the tilled subsoil. Any organic compost will suffice in adding additional nutrients to the subsoil before adding the topsoil. A bag of compost should cover a plot 3 to 4 square feet in size.

3. Water the plot until it is moist but not overly wet or soaking.

4. Add the topsoil to the plot. The topsoil that you purchase should be from 2 to 10 percent organic material. Spread topsoil onto the plot with a tiller or by hand. Add just 2 inches of topsoil for the first application. Two weeks later add an additional 2 inches.

5. Add water and fertilizer as required by each plant.

Tips & Warnings

• When adding topsoil, avoid stepping on the plot or packing the soil with your hands. You want the soil to drain efficiently, and if it is too tightly packed, it will not drain well.

References

• yardcare.com: Building a Lawn
• University of Connecticut: Purchasing Topsoil
• University of Arizona: Importing Topsoil