Sourcing Top Soil / Bulk

Del_Astra

I have an area of garden I would need to level off, it is 12m by 9m and requires roughly 150mm of top soil on average to bring it to the level. The area was cleared by JCB which took the 6" or so that was there away.

I have been round local building developments to see if I can obtain the soil they are removing. Any other ideas? A couple of gardener's have said it will take 80 ton, the calculations on the web are coming in closer to 140 Ton.

The soil is at the moment does have weeds starting to grow, although it contains very few (if any worms) so does need improving. Any ideas on where I can source this much soil would be helpful as well as how to improve it, I have covered a small area with cardboard after weed and trying to break up the soil to get some air into it.

Unfortunately it seems to be cheaper to put hard core down and pave the area than to get growing in it.

TheMoneySpider

I have posted this link in the past http://www.tru-grow.co.uk/tru_grow/how_much_do_i_need.aspx

Seems to do the job and I know they do big orders and deliver

poppysarah

What about terraces for growing on instead?
Or grow on slopes?

Del_Astra

Thanks Sarah, it will have a slight slope on it anyway, I still need to raise to the level to turf the parts I won't be growing own. I'm currently working on breaking up and adding some rotted manure / compost, but I'm going need to additional top soil and perhaps hard core for shed / deck.

Garden_Girl

A good source is the local Admag or the freebie newspapers. Often there are ads in - for "free" topsoil for collection where people are doing building projects - the same for hardcore.

poppysarah

How many barrows in a ton? Multiply that by 140 tons and I think you'll spend the next 6 months moving soil.

If it's 8-12 barrowfulls then that's a lot of work. Your barrow may vary.

Leif

Garden_Girl wrote: »

A good source is the local Admag or the freebie newspapers. Often there are ads in - for "free" topsoil for collection where people are doing building projects - the same for hardcore.

What guarantee is there that the soil is free from bindweed, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan Balsam, and many other goodies? I must admit I would not touch them, and to be honest I think I would now avoid second hand pots due to the risk of importing disease.

I suppose the above question also applies to soil from a commercial source.

Del_Astra

Leif "I suppose the above question also applies to soil from a commercial source. "

Very good question as the samples I have seen have varied.... some are dark and others much lighter in appearance, same for weight and feel just picking up a handful, it varies. For commercial sources they have to meet standards, but tbh I have no idea if this means it is free from these things. Most are happy to let provide you with a sample, of course you might well get something very different when your order arrives.

Price has so far varied as well from £600 - to £2500 for 20 Tonnes.