What is Top Soil and why you cannot buy it

Top soil is the holy grail of any experienced gardener. It retains water, yet drains freely, holds nutrients, allows for rapid growth of new roots, lets oxygen permeate the rooting zone and holds colonies of beneficial microbes. But when this soil is handled and transported the structure and porosity collapses and it looses these beneficial characteristics. You will see bags of top soil for sale and you can buy large truck loads of soil delivered to your property but it will have lost many of its life giving traits as it inevitably becomes compacted back fill.
To make your own top soil, remove and avoid compaction, add organic matter and never use a tiller.

[@wizardking10]

beautiful soil and great explanation of top soil, sooo many worms!!!

[@stevieb6173]

excellent instruction ,again ,i m a gardener and that is exactly what i do each year , and my mantra is don't compact it ,dig it , add a bit of organic matter ,let it sit and plant into it, and stay off it as much as you can

[@PlantedwithIanCooke]

I feel soil compaction is the number 1 cause of plant failure. It restricts everything in the soil. Happy digging

[@leminhk]

Good❤

[@jeffreygmarshall]

I have clay soil on top of a ridge. If I plant fruit trees in well amended soil, then start what you show here every year, will that be enough to grow good trees?

[@PlantedwithIanCooke]

That is a big question. A quality small tree, suitable for your climate, planted properly in none compacted soul, with adequate water supply to help get established and you will do fine.

[@jeffreygmarshall]

@@PlantedwithIanCooke Thank you for replying. What do I do about compacted clay about 8 inches down? On a ridge the topsoil is not the best.

[@PlantedwithIanCooke]

@@jeffreygmarshall overly amended soil tricks the plant into initial growth and it will be set back when faced with the underlying conditions. 5% growing medium mixed into a large wide planting pit is the best solution. Dig wide, not deep and get new roots established.