Understanding the different components of your garden beds is an integral part of becoming a better gardener. Fertilizer, topsoil, compost and mulch may all bear similarities to one another, but each is a distinct product with a specific purpose. Additionally, they all require certain conditions to be most effective, making it essential to understand the proper process for a successful garden.
What is Topsoil?
Topsoil is the uppermost layer of the earth’s crust. Basically, it is everything that is not man-made or living on the surface of our planet. The composure of topsoil varies dramatically depending on region, land use and many other factors.
What is Compost?
Compost is organic material in the process of breaking down into its base components. This is called decomposing. Almost any organic material can be used for compost, from fruit and vegetable skins to tree limbs, leaves and even animal droppings. Compost is nutrient-rich, which makes it a great additive for soil. Many people use compost to add nitrogen back to their garden beds.
How to Find Quality Compost
There are two ways to find quality compost. The first is to create your own compost heap. This process is relatively straightforward and allows you to reuse the organic waste that your household produces in your gardens. All you need is a sturdy container and a convenient way to add to it. Just keep in mind that it takes about a year to produce quality compost, so you will need a container large enough to hold all the waste material.
Still, there are some drawbacks to making your own compost, not the least of which is the limited supply your household can produce. Therefore, you should also consider the second method of sourcing quality compost, which is through a reputable bulk supplier like Soil Kings.
How to Find Quality Topsoil
Much like compost, there are two ways to find quality topsoil. Of course, the best way is to choose Soil Kings for all your bulk soil needs. We have the tightest screening size available, meaning you will have a fresh, moist and easy-to-use product at your disposal.
Still, as we mentioned at the start of this article, understanding is the first step to better gardening. This includes knowing what constitutes quality topsoil. We recommend looking at several different suppliers to understand the differences in quality, including the ratio of sand and clay to the soil, the moistness of the products and the general makeup of the soil (pebbles, sticks, rocks, etc.).
Once you have a good grasp on what makes quality topsoil, we expect that you’ll come back to Soil Kings, as our products and prices are sure to leave a lasting impression.
