Topsoil, on the other hand, is dirt fortified with nutrients usually used for gardens and grass.
Top Soil vs.
Fill Dirt At a Glance
What Is Fill Dirt?
The Spruce / David Karoki
Fill dirt is rocky, sandy, and shaley material sourced from building and construction projects.
Everything underneath the top layer of soil (the topsoil) is removed to dig the foundation.
Another benefit of fill dirt is thatcompared to topsoilit is relatively inexpensive.
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What Is Topsoil?
Topsoilis just thatthe top layer of soil in a garden or landscape.
It’s also pricier than fill dirt because of its relative scarcity and desirable content.
The Spruce / David Karoki
Beingless expensivethan topsoil, it also serves as a foundation for the latter.
Sand and gravel are sometimes mixed for use in backfilling projects, especially those that need sharp drainage.
Begin bytesting it for nutrient deficiencies and excessive acidity/alkalinity.
The Spruce / David Karoki
Once you know how acidic/alkaline your dirt is, you canlower the soil pHorraise the soil pH.
Some sites are only local, and the national sites just need your zip code or address.
Many of these sites are open to homeowners as well.
The Spruce / David Karoki
Jump on Craigslist or Freecycle, and you’ll find lots of ads for free horse or chicken manure.
Just know that you’ll need tomake compostbefore you might use it in your garden.
Want something it’s possible for you to use right away?
Then, look for rabbit manure.
It doesn’t have to be composted first.
Chances are there’s an area at the local town dump set aside for fill dirt.
But, while the process is regulated, they may contain chemical residues from prescription medications and household cleaners.
Unknown Sources
verify you know where the fill dirt came from.
If you have any questions about its quality or safety, take a soil sample, andhave it tested.
Topsoil, teeming with the life of organic matter, is what your plants crave.
But fill dirt, which you often can get for free, provides a drainage-friendly base for it.
Moreover, fill dirt is indispensable for everything fromhardscapeprojects to filling holes to changing the elevation in your yard.
If you are laying sod, it will take to amended and tightly-packed fill dirt.
Hardening fill dirt involves mixing lime and sand into it.
Bunny honey: Using rabbit manure as a fertilizer.Michigan State University Extension.
