How to add new soil to yard

[Anonymous]

I would have your soil tested before you do anything. Your existing plants probably just need more water right now. Bleeding hearts go dormant in the summer (i.e., shrivel up and look like cr@p), and hostas are pretty darn tough except deer love them.

You don't want to put more than an inch or two of additional soil or compost over areas with trees because this is very bad for the trees. Compost may provide more bang for your buck than topsoil. Leafgro is one brand of compost, and it's worked well for us.

Don't move the soil from your patio project--it's going to be even worse than your soil under the trees.

Once you have your soil tested, let that guide your plant choices (i.e., if it's acidic, rhododendrons and azaleas should do well, if it's alkaline, find out what plants would do well for you). Then when you dig holes for your new plants, dig the holes twice as wide as the rootball of your new plant and fill the hole with half compost (Leafgro) and half old soil you dug out of your hole). Be willing to adjust where you put the plants if you run into a big tree root.

I wouldn't bother with getting a bunch of topsoil shipped in as long as your trees are doing well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would have your soil tested before you do anything. Your existing plants probably just need more water right now. Bleeding hearts go dormant in the summer (i.e., shrivel up and look like cr@p), and hostas are pretty darn tough except deer love them.

You don't want to put more than an inch or two of additional soil or compost over areas with trees because this is very bad for the trees. Compost may provide more bang for your buck than topsoil. Leafgro is one brand of compost, and it's worked well for us.

Don't move the soil from your patio project--it's going to be even worse than your soil under the trees.

Once you have your soil tested, let that guide your plant choices (i.e., if it's acidic, rhododendrons and azaleas should do well, if it's alkaline, find out what plants would do well for you). Then when you dig holes for your new plants, dig the holes twice as wide as the rootball of your new plant and fill the hole with half compost (Leafgro) and half old soil you dug out of your hole). Be willing to adjust where you put the plants if you run into a big tree root.

I wouldn't bother with getting a bunch of topsoil shipped in as long as your trees are doing well.

+1 The new soil around new plants --easy-- just buy a bag of soil when you buy the plant. Also composted manure does wonders for the lawn. Spread it thinly (is sanitized) Some water and fertilizer does wonders also.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Which is why I said to make sure it's from a reputable place duh!

How should the OP judge whether it is a reputable place?

Don't you have any common sense? Talk to people and get opinions? Or do you live under a rock?

Wow- never thought the the gardening forum would get as mean-spirited as the rest of DCUM. Guess that was naive.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:American Plant may be OK for advice but their prices are high. If the OP is on a budget it may be worth shopping around.

I agree. No one said you have to buy their stuff. But they give fabulous advice. For a large yard the best bet is to get a truckload of dirt delivered. It will be expensive but much easier than hauling a bajillion bags around the yard.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should amend the soil before you plant. Your yard is probably all clay. You need to till/plow the ground with new top soil added in. Best to do it before you begin planting. I would pay someone to do it properly. It's a back breaking work. Once it's done, you will enjoy it for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, you should amend the soil before you plant. Your yard is probably all clay. You need to till/plow the ground with new top soil added in. Best to do it before you begin planting. I would pay someone to do it properly. It's a back breaking work. Once it's done, you will enjoy it for years to come.

OP can't till it into an area that has a lot of tree roots, unless she wants to risk killing the trees.

[Anonymous]

OP, you should amend the soil before you plant. Your yard is probably all clay. You need to till/plow the ground with new top soil added in. Best to do it before you begin planting. I would pay someone to do it properly. It's a back breaking work. Once it's done, you will enjoy it for years to come.

This is really old school and is not recommended any more. First test and see what the conditions are.

[Anonymous]

Op here. I discovered. The culprit for why hostas and other ants don't do well in this part of our front yard - deer! So no need to move soil. We just need some deer resistant plants!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I discovered. The culprit for why hostas and other ants don't do well in this part of our front yard - deer! So no need to move soil. We just need some deer resistant plants!

Yes, if there's a list of plants to plant if you want to feed the deer, hostas must be at the top of the list.

I'm glad to read that there's no need to move soil.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I discovered. The culprit for why hostas and other ants don't do well in this part of our front yard - deer! So no need to move soil. We just need some deer resistant plants!

Deer off! You have to mail order it to get the kind that smell like mint... not like putrefying eggs (look on the label)

[Anonymous]

Do a soil test. The library sells the kits and they send them off to virginia tech for testing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. I discovered. The culprit for why hostas and other ants don't do well in this part of our front yard - deer! So no need to move soil. We just need some deer resistant plants!

Glad you found that out before you tried to tackle the problem with adding topsoil!