Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil: What’s in the Bag?

Are you working on a new garden space to get ready for spring planting and are wondering what to fill those garden beds with? When it comes to topsoil vs garden soil vs potting soil you have to know the differences of what’s in those bags. 

Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil: What’s in the Bag?

When comparing topsoil vs garden soil vs potting soil, you’ll find that they all have their specific uses. Taking a closer look at each and your project can help you decide on the right soil.

Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil: The Main Differences

Features & Benefits	Topsoil	Garden Soil	Potting Soil
Characteristics	Mix of sand, clay, and silt. Not the best drainage.	Mix of sand, clay, and silt with added organic materials, composted wood chips, or peat moss. Good drainage but retains moisture well.	Mix of sand, clay, silt, organic matter, composted wood chips, peat moss, perlite, and/or vermiculite. Made for moisture retention but still well draining.
Best Uses	Filling holes, leveling lawns. Can be mixed with garden soil or compost to stretch material.	Used in raised garden beds or traditional in ground rows to amend the existing soil. Can be mixed with compost	Best for smaller container gardens to help provide nutrients, oxygen, and better moisture retention
Nutrients	no	Yes, some brands more than others	Yes, Varies by brand
Cost	Cheap, usually between $2-3 a bag	$4.50-12.50 depending on brand	$8-35.00 a bag

What to Choose? Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil

Now that we have taken a quick look at the basics of these three types of soil, lets take a closer look at each type and how they can be used.  It’s important to always read the information on the bag of soil to know exactly what is in it, as there is no regulation on this.  It’s also a good idea to test your garden soil before deciding what to amend it with.

What is Topsoil?

Top soil is just as it says, the top layer of soil.  It is often not where plant roots are pulling nutrients from, unless you are growing lettuce, which has shallow roots. It is mostly made up of a mix of sand, clay, and silt.

The quality will vary by brand, as it can be a mix of different amounts of these materials. You’ll often find that premium top soil is a better quality than regular top soil.

When Should You Use Topsoil?

Bagged topsoil often contains no nutrients and is often used as a filler for new lawns.  Topsoil usually has poor drainage.

It can be mixed with higher quality, more expensive soils or compost to stretch your materials, especially if you are trying to fill a new raised bed.  If this is the route you take, just be sure to have a fertilizer program in place for your vegetable gardens.

What is Garden Soil?

Garden soil, simply put is top soil with extra organic matter mixed in, making it into a nice loamy soil.  It is often has compost. peat moss, shredded bark, or fertilizer added to it.  

When Should You Use Garden Soil?

Garden soil is the best soil to use in your vegetable gardens as many of them are tailored towards using them in flower beds or vegetable gardens.  The addition of organic matter and possibly a fertilizer will give you better plant growth, drainage, water retention, and help build the structure of your existing soil. 

What is Potting Soil?

Potting mix is usually made up of peat moss, composted pine bark, and other composted organic materials. It essentially contains less soil, which helps with drainage.  Potting mix is specifically made for container plants.

When Should You Use Potting Soil?

Potting soil should be used for any potted plant.  Potted plants require more drainage than plants that are in garden beds. They also tend to dry out quicker due to the better drainage of potting soil.  Be sure to water them frequently. If the price tag of traditional potting soil has you shocked, you can make your own.

Making Your Own Potting Soil

Making your own potting soil can save you some money.  To this basic recipe, you can also add worm castings or other soil amendments for extra nutrients. For a good basic potting soil, mix equal parts of these three main ingredients:

• Garden soil
• Peat moss
• Sand, vermiculite, or perlite

Is Organic Potting Soil Better?

Organic soil mixes may have a better soil quality than regular soil mixes. It ensures you have nothing synthetic, like chemicals or other unknown ingredients, in your soil mix.  

Organic mixes can be pricey.  Making your own mix ensures you know exactly what is in your soil. 

When to Use Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil

Hopefully we’ve cleared up the debate on topsoil vs garden soil vs potting soil and you are ready to get those garden beds prepared for planting. But wait, we forgot to talk about compost. 

What About Compost?

Compost is organic matter that has been broken down and made into available nutrients for plant roots. Compost improves soil structure, adds beneficial bacteria to the soil, improves drainage and moisture retention, all the while providing nutrients to your plants.

Adding organic compost or mushroom compost to your native soil is always a good idea at the beginning of the growing season. You can even start seeds in compost.

Is It Possible to Grow Plants in Topsoil?

While it is possible for plants to grow in top soil, it’s not the best soil for vegetable gardens or your flower gardens. It often does not have sufficient drainage or have the nutrients your plants need.  

Should You Use Garden Soil or Topsoil in a Raised Bed?

Raised beds can take a lot of material to fill and you may be tempted to fill them with cheaper topsoil to save money. For best results, consider filling the bottom of your raised beds with small twigs, branches, and leaves to fill up some of the empty space.  Overtime, they will breakdown feed your plants.  If you’d like to stretch your garden soil budget you can mix top soil, compost, and garden soil.

What Goes Down First, Topsoil or Garden Soil?

While it may sound a little confusing, topsoil is actually a good choice for the lower layer of soil, if you need filler soil. Garden soil and/or compost can then be used on top for vegetable gardens or your flower bed.

Can I Fill Raised Beds With Topsoil?

Filling beds with top soil is not recommended for filling garden beds.  It lacks the nutrients and may not drain as well as garden soil.  Topsoil is good for filling holes or leveling out low spots in your yard.  If you need to use it to stretch your gardening budget, mixing topsoil with plenty of compost will help with fertility and drainage. 

Can You Mix Topsoil With Your Potting Soil?

Potting soil is specially formulated to drain well. Top soil often lacks this feature and nutrients. Container gardening requires soil that has nutrients and is well draining.

Are All Gardening Soils the Same?

Garden soils are not created equally. Just like with anything else you will have higher quality garden soil and lower quality garden soils.  

Topsoil Vs Garden Soil Vs Potting Soil:  Which is Best?

As you can see, it really depends on your project.  Take a close look at what your project requires and choose the best option for the job.  I can tell you this though, don’t cut corners and buy topsoil to make a vegetable garden bed. It is likely that your garden plants will not thrive with garden center topsoil alone.

Happy Homesteading & Gardening,

Jenny @ The GrahamStead Family Farm

Jenny and her family have been homesteading for over 20 years. They are currently farming on their 10 acre Florida farm, that they built from the ground up, 8 years ago, growing 100% of their meat and a lot of their vegetables. From their small herd of Aberdeen Angus Cattle, Pastured Poultry, Sheep, and seasonal pigs, they are able to raise enough meat for the family while selling extra to the community. All the while, striving to butcher at home, as much as possible, and use the bits and pieces of their harvest by preserving food, making bone broth, and (Jenny’s favorite) tanning all kinds of hides!

Sources: https://extension.psu.edu/homemade-potting-media