Can You Mix Potting Soil With Garden Soil? (2024)

FAQs

Can You Mix Potting Soil With Garden Soil? ›

Potting soil can be mixed with garden soil for particular cases such as raised beds, but it's not a good mix for containers. Learn more about these different types of soil and how to use them in various types of gardens.

1. Can Topsoil and Potting Soil be Mixed? Yes, you can mix the two if you'd like to use topsoil for your container plants or raised beds.

Potting soil is one of the most important elements when it comes to vegetable gardening. It helps create a nutrient-rich environment for your plants and can make or break their overall development.

You can also use garden soil as an ingredient in homemade potting soil. Yes, some people want soil in their potting soil. Just be sure to add nutrients and amendments to make the mix light and loose. Don't use it in containers.

While potting mix alone is too light for use in raised beds, creating a 50:50 blend of potting mix and Miracle-Gro® All Purpose Garden Soil will give just the right balance. Top-notch potting mix and raised bed soil may cost more than low-quality versions, but you really get what you pay for.

Potting mix is meant to stand alone, as opposed to being mixed in with existing soils. It is a self-contained product designed to provide potted plants with everything they need to grow and thrive. Garden soil is meant to be spread around. Mix garden soil in with your native dirt to improve it.

As a general rule, garden soil is used in outdoor raised beds or mixed into traditional garden beds. Potting soils and mixes are often used when potting up outdoor container arrangements, potting (or re-potting) houseplants, and for seed-starting and plant propagation.

Garden soil is just topsoil that has extra organic matter mixed in, like compost, peat, bark shredding, or fertilizer. It's intended to be used in the garden, where your plants benefit from the added fertility and nutrients. Some garden soils are even specifically tailored for vegetables or flowers.

The best soil suitable for vegetables includes lots of compost and organic matter such as composted leaves and ground or shredded, aged bark. Whatever you're starting with, incorporate enough organic material so that the amended soil is neither sandy nor compacted.

What is the best top soil for vegetable gardens? ›

Loam soil. Loam soil is very common and it is often considered a very safe option to go with, particularly because it's a mixture of soil, silt, and clay. Characteristically, it combines the benefits of all of the components that it is made up of, making it a suitable option that has a very wide application.

Garden soils are typically intended for use in the ground and contain minerals and organic matter. They are not a good choice for containers because the soil can quickly become compacted and waterlogged, reducing air space around the roots. This can lead to poor or stunted growth.

The Formula for Soil Mix

To create your own perfect soil mix, thoroughly blend 1 part peat or coir, 1 part perlite or vermiculite, one-half part composted bark, and one-half part worm castings. You can grow just about any crop in your indoor garden with this mix.

Soil that is well-maintained and regularly amended with organic matter can last for up to 10 years or more. Soil that is poorly maintained and not amended regularly may only last for a few years. Soil that is contaminated with chemicals or heavy metals may not be viable for gardening and should be replaced.

Potting soil is a more suitable soil type for outdoor plants than garden soil. It's created with organic matter and additives to be a standalone soil for growing plants. However, it can get compacted and cause waterlogging and root suffocation when used for container plants.

How to Reuse Potting Soil. It's generally fine to reuse potting soil if whatever you were growing in it was healthy. If you did notice pests or diseases on your plants, it's best to sterilize the mix to avoid infecting next year's plants.

Fortunately, most potting soil can last up to two years because that is the lifespan of the peat moss it likely contains. (Tip: To keep it as fresh as possible, store it sealed in its original bag or another covered container in a climate-controlled environment.)

Potting soil isn't actually soil, because it doesn't have any humus and minerals. Some of the best potting soils contain fertilizer, but if yours doesn't, it's easy to add. Vermiculite is made from compressed minerals that expand when they absorb water.

The main disadvantage of potting soils is that it can be expensive, while soil from your own garden is free. Some plants can be harmed by a potting mix intended for another type of plant. Also, some potting mixes are not suitable for organic gardening because of synthetic ingredients they contain.

The best soil for potted plants will contain a blend of coconut coir fiber, vermiculite, perlite, organic fertilizer, sand, compost, peat moss and is rich in basic nutrients required by the plants. It should be well aerated, should be able to retain moisture and nutrition well.

Do you put topsoil on top of garden soil? ›

Technically, topsoil is the top layer of soil in any garden or yard or field, usually referring to a depth of between 2 to 8 inches down. Topsoil is the most productive and vital section of garden soil.

Soil falls into three main types - sand, clay and silt. Generally speaking, the best potting soil for growing flowers is an even mix of the three aforementioned soil types and is called sandy loam. This mix will ensure optimum growth conditions for most flowers.

Topsoils with a loamy texture are great for gardening because they are easy to till and promote airflow. You will typically see topsoil sold in larger quantities than gardening soil, and it is also more of an “all-purpose” soil as well.

Loamy soil

Three main components make up soil: sand, silt, and clay. Loamy soil includes all three in equal amounts. That means that it drains well, retains a lot of moisture, and breathes enough for air to reach the roots of a plant. Those factors make it an ideal all-around choice for gardening.

Loam is the ideal soil for most plants; it contains a balance of all three mineral particles and is rich in humus (what's left after organic matter decomposes).

During hot weather, tomato plants need deep waterings. Tomatoes are also less likely to crack when the soil is kept slightly moist. Cover the soil. Mulch blocks weeds, saves water and protects your fruit.

They should have at least 8 inches of soil depth to accommodate the root systems of plants, because the majority of plant roots require 6 – 8 inches of soil for healthy root growth. A depth of 8 – 12 inches will suffice for most gardening situations.

If plants died from bacterial, fungal or viral disease, then you definitely do not want to reuse the soil, as soilborne pathogens can still be present and active. However, if the plants that grew in the soil before were healthy, it is generally OK to reuse the potting soil.

How Long Can You Store Potting Soil? Opened bags of new potting soil can retain quality for around 6 to 12 months. For unopened and unused potting soil, you can store it for about a year or two before it goes bad. Usually, potting soil lasts longer when stored in a dry and cool container.

Do I need new potting soil every year? ›

Typically, changing the soil in your potted plants should happen every 12 to 18 months. There are some exceptions that may change this timing. These include if you're moving a plant into a bigger pot because it's outgrown its current pot or if the soil has become very hard.

The best soil for potted plants will contain a blend of coconut coir fiber, vermiculite, perlite, organic fertilizer, sand, compost, peat moss and is rich in basic nutrients required by the plants. It should be well aerated, should be able to retain moisture and nutrition well.

Garden soil and potting soil are formulated for different applications. Garden soil is an amendment that is mixed with native soil, while potting soil is used alone for container gardens like potted houseplants and window boxes.

Potting soil vs. potting mix: Though these terms are used interchangeably, there is a difference. Potting soil may or may not contain soil, while potting mix is strictly a soilless medium. Potting mix is sterile, which makes it safer for plants because it doesn't contain pathogens such as fungus or other diseases.

So, does potting soil need fertilizer? Yes, plants require three macronutrients in order to grow – nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium (N-P-K). Whether the potting soil is homemade or bought from the store, it will almost always require some type of fertilizer to be added to it during the season.

Common Recipes

For a potting mix: 1 part peat moss. 1 part perlite. 2 parts compost.

Potting mix can certainly be bought in bags at a garden stores. Look for “Soilless Potting Mix” which generally includes three ingredients: 1) peat moss or coconut coir for moisture and nutrient retention, 2) pine bark for anchorage, and 3) either perlite or vermiculite so air space so it's light and fluffy.

Sand adds air space to a potting mix. Builder's sand, or coarse sand, is best. Avoid plaster and fine sands; they create a dense mix. Because it is heavier than other ingredients, sand is a good choice for top-heavy plants that might tip over.

Cons of Potting Soil.

Their texture and weight allow less air movement, which is why they can get easily compacted. Water drains slower. This quality makes it not the best choice for potted plants since they can get wet roots, harming your house plants. Not perfect for seed starting.