Landscaping Supply for a Lush Lawn: Soil Mixtures

Many of us have heard the saying “the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence.” With a little effort and the right materials from Tim Wallace Soil Mix Supply, the grass can be greener on your side of the fence.

Our soil mixtures for your lawn can help you achieve the vibrant color and health of yard you desire. Use our following mixture descriptions to help you choose the soil that’s ideal for your lawn and your green goals.

Topdressing Mix: 50% topsoil, 50% fine sand (a superb base for sod)

If you’ve ever wondered how grass on golf courses stays so lush, a major reason is that it includes topdressing with sand.

Where black dirt will dry out, our 50-50 sand and topsoil topdressing will keep the soil moist and loose. Sand is a great asset because it enhances soil structure and increases root-zone porosity to support deep roots with good infiltration of water and air.

Other advantages of our topdressing mix include:

better drainage of water and prevention of thatch build-up because of the sand

leveling of any uneven areas and filling of bare spots because of the topsoil

ability to treat your lawn with your favorite bagged “weed and feed” product once the grass is re-established

The screened, pulverized black dirt (topsoil) in the topdressing mix improves the lawn’s nutrient quality without affecting its pH or chemical composition.

Enriched Topsoil Mix: 50% topsoil, 50% organic mushroom compost

When you are over-seeding your lawn, the mushroom compost in the enriched topsoil mix provides optimal topdressing as opposed to simply covering the seed with topsoil.

Acting as a type of slow-release, organic plant fertilizer, the mushroom compost in the enriched topsoil mix helps hold moisture against the seeds so they can germinate faster while preventing birds from eating them and wind from scattering them.

Topsoil also isn’t just nutrient-dense – it stays that way. Topsoil’s ability to retain its nutrients is life-sustaining for plants.

Premium Topsoil Mix: 50% topsoil, 25% mushroom compost, 25% fine sand

The pulverized black dirt in this mix helps level any uneven areas and fill bare spots in your lawn. The soil mixture’s fine sand further supports moisture retention, which is especially helpful when over-seeding.

The mushroom compost in the premium topsoil mix is a superb type of slow-release, organic plant fertilizer – an excellent asset for renewing an older, more-established lawn. Like the fine sand, the compost also helps hold moisture against the seeds so they can germinate faster. Gardens with non-flowering plants can even be topped with the mushroom compost as a composted soil alone.

Before you add any type of topdressing, the lawn should be mowed short and be de-thatched if the thatch is deeper than your nail when you insert your finger. For optimal lawn results, add no more than 1” of any topdressing mix onto the top of your lawn on a dry day. This will help ensure a consistent soil mix in the root zone for better drainage and moisture retention.

Lump the fresh mix so the yard appears dotted with molehills every few feet. Next, spread the lumps evenly and break any clumps into small bits. On the last pass, rake or brush the grass so the mix falls through the grass and the blades peek through an even depth.

Lawn Repair Mix: 50% topsoil, 25% fine sand, 25% Purple Cow Compost

Nationally known and trusted Purple Cow Classic Compost is a proven, time-tested way to add beneficial microbes, carbon and balanced nutrients to your lawn or gardening soil.

A 100% plant-based and organic component, the Purple Cow Compost improves soil structure and porosity in creating a better plant-root environment. It also reinforces nutrient retention and use while reducing nutrient loss caused by leaching. Purple Cow includes humus to assist in soil aggregation and nutrient availability for the plant as well.

Even the best compost can dry out quickly, so mixing it with topsoil and fine sand is a great way to provide balanced media for lawns and bedding for flowers and plants. This mixture provides three top benefits in repairing a tired, nutrient-starved lawn:

Topsoil will offer a healthy home for roots with plenty of water.

Purple Cow Compost will provide a healthy boost of nutrients.

Fine sand will help with soil porosity and water retention.

The lawn repair mix’s inclusion of both sand and dry topsoil also allows for much better leveling of uneven areas than if sand is applied on the lawn without any mixing. To read more about do-it-yourself lawn repair:

https://www.timwallacesoilmixsupply.com/dyi-lawn-service-lawn-repair/

New to Our Soil Blend Line-Up: PEAT

Peat comes from peat bogs, many of which are found in the wetland areas of northern Midwest states, Canada, Europe and even New Zealand. The peat we use is sourced from the peat bogs of northern Minnesota. Peat bogs are formed over long periods of time as organic materials such as sphagnum moss become submerged and partially decompose. Since there is an abundance of water in these bogs, the decomposition of this organic matter is slowed by the anaerobic (without air) conditions present. The product created from organic matters submerged into the bogs is called peat. And because this material is essentially formed underwater, the peat is preserved almost indefinitely.

Peat is not commonly used as a standalone product. In fact, by itself it’s not a good growing medium beyond starting seeds from scratch. Even though peat can help your soil retain nutrients, it hardly contains any nutrients at all in and of itself. Peat also doesn’t add sufficient nutrients to the soil for healthy plant growth on its own so you have to add other organic components like topsoil along with it.

As a Soil Amendment

• Water Retention: One of the significant attributes of peat is its ability to retain water. Its fibrous structure creates pore spaces within the soil, enhancing water retention and preventing rapid moisture loss. This quality proves particularly useful in soils that tend to dry out quickly – like clay.
• Organic Soil Amendment: Peat serves as an excellent organic amendment, enriching the soil with organic matter as it decomposes further over time. This enrichment fosters a favorable environment for beneficial microorganisms that contribute to soil health. Peat can be added to your soil to achieve any of the following results:

• Help drier, sandier soils retain moisture for longer.
• Help heavy clay soils loosen up and have better aeration and drainage.
• Its fibrous nature facilitates better soil drainage and root development.
• Increase the amount of organic material in the soil, which breaks down over time to provide nutrients.

Gardening and lawn care experts seem to unanimously agree, that peat used in a ratio of no more than 3 to 1 is the best soil blend combination. We prefer a slightly more conservative approach and blend our soil mixes made with peat at a rate of 25% peat. This percentage amount provides the moisture and nutrient retention qualities of the peat that complement and improve the other organics used in the blend while not making drastic changes to the soil’s pH.

Peat Todressing Mix: 75% topsoil, 25% Peat

Peat Lawn Repair Mix: 50% topsoil, 25% fine sand, 25% Peat

Landscaping Supply for Lush Lawns: Contact Us Today

A rich, green lawn is a pleasure to look at and walk on, and Tim Wallace Soil Mix Supply is here to make that possible for your yard. With the right information, ideas and landscape materials, you really can enjoy your side of the fence. Contact us at (630) 759-1080 to further discuss the ideal soil mix for your lawn – as well as for potting and gardening!