Replacing garden soil for a cottage garden - Ask Extension
We are wanting to turn our dandelion lawn into a cottage garden - slowly. I've been removing the lawn in small sections and shaking the dirt from the ...
Knowledgebase
Replacing garden soil for a cottage garden #880093
Asked August 04, 2024, 3:27 AM EDT
We are wanting to turn our dandelion lawn into a cottage garden - slowly. I've been removing the lawn in small sections and shaking the dirt from the roots. I'm wondering what to do to add soil back to the lawn surface. Should I use potting soil? or compost? or plain topsoil. I'm planning to use eoyonmous, sedges, irises as well as other plants. And we want to have shrubs such as barberry and eyonymous as well as stepping stones to make a path. Any advice is welcome. Thank you
Polk County Oregon
Expert Response
Dear Dahlia,
Thanks for contacting us about soil for your garden. Unless you need to raise the grade, the best addition in most situations is up to one-inch of finished compost or manure. This can be lightly tilled into the existing soil, although generally tilling is no longer considered beneficial. The cheapest way to purchase compost is in bulk.
Triple mix generally includes topsoil and sand which are unnecessary, and peat moss which is not sustainable. Topsoil may be of questionable quality since there are no standards for it. Often it contains a lot of weed seeds. Potting soil is usually a mixture of non-soil ingredients including peat moss. We do not recommend using potting soil in gardens because these lighter materials tend to wash away through rain and irrigation. Also, they do not provide anything to improve the soil.
Look for a reputable garden supply retailer to purchase finished compost. Note, too, that finished in this instance is also called mature compost. It will still take months to years for the organic materials to completely decompose.
The following article may be helpful:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1561-improving-garden-soils-organic-matter
If you have other questions, please feel free to write again.
Thanks for contacting us about soil for your garden. Unless you need to raise the grade, the best addition in most situations is up to one-inch of finished compost or manure. This can be lightly tilled into the existing soil, although generally tilling is no longer considered beneficial. The cheapest way to purchase compost is in bulk.
Triple mix generally includes topsoil and sand which are unnecessary, and peat moss which is not sustainable. Topsoil may be of questionable quality since there are no standards for it. Often it contains a lot of weed seeds. Potting soil is usually a mixture of non-soil ingredients including peat moss. We do not recommend using potting soil in gardens because these lighter materials tend to wash away through rain and irrigation. Also, they do not provide anything to improve the soil.
Look for a reputable garden supply retailer to purchase finished compost. Note, too, that finished in this instance is also called mature compost. It will still take months to years for the organic materials to completely decompose.
The following article may be helpful:
https://extension.oregonstate.edu/catalog/pub/ec-1561-improving-garden-soils-organic-matter
If you have other questions, please feel free to write again.
