Types of Bagged Soil

Garden centers offer a wide variety of bagged soils.

Those stacks of bags of soil at your favorite garden center can be confusing. Not all bagged soil is the same. Some types are used in the garden while others are used in pots and containers. Some contain extra nutrients while others just enrich the soil with organic material. Learn the differences between the types of bagged soil available in order to choose the right soil for your needs.

Topsoil

Topsoil is just what it sounds like: the top or surface layer of soil, usually only to a depth of about 6 inches. Topsoil is dark and fertile from decomposed plant matter. It is able to retain water while at the same time promote good drainage. It does not contain any added plant nutrients or fertilizers. Bagged topsoil is an important soil additive for sandy gardens but can also be a good growing medium on it own.

Potting Soil

Potting soil is a mixture of organic material in varying amounts and is used for growing plants in containers. The organic material, which is usually peat moss, bark, compost or a combination of these materials, holds water and creates air pockets in the soil. A nonorganic material like sand is also added to provide more aeration. The complete ingredient list on different brands of potting soils may vary widely as can the percentages of components. These variations then create different results with each brand of potting soil.

Garden Soil

Bagged garden soil is another confusing type of soil available at your garden center. It is a mixture of compost, peat moss and the important plant nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Garden soil is a soil amendment used when transplanting individual plants into the ground. It can be turned into the garden bed soil like topsoil or added to the hole of each individual plant being planted.

Mixes

Your garden center may also carry a variety of mixes such as potting mix and soilless mix. These mixtures are similar to potting soil in that they contain a combination of organic material, like peat moss or bark, and inorganic material, like sand, vermiculite or perlite, and are used for container gardening. However, the mixes are usually created with a specific purpose in mind and may also contain nutrients or fertilizers for that purpose. A potting mix for orchids, for example, will have different nutrients and pH level than a potting mix for African violets.

References

• Arizona Cooperative Extension; Backyard Gardener: Importing Topsoil; Jeff Schalau; 2001
• Virginia Cooperative Extension; Indoor Plant Culture; Alex X. Niemiera; 2009
• University of California Extension; Potting Soil Label Information is Inadequate; Dennis R. Pittenger; 1986
• Scotts: Miracle-Gro Garden Soil for Flowers & Vegetables
• University of Arizona Extension; Potting Media for Containers; Linda L. Reddick

Resources

• Mother Earth News; How to Make Instant No-Dig Garden Beds; Barbara Pleasant; 2008