Can You Fill Planters With Topsoil? What To Know Before You Get Started

Even for the experienced gardener, planning out a garden can get a bit confusing at times. Besides choosing plants for your growing area and learning their specific needs and care, it's also important to know which soil types are best. There are a variety of soil mixes, each with traits meant for specific purposes, which can make it confusing to choose the right one. While something like topsoil can be great for filling low areas in your yard or garden, it isn't a good idea to use it in planters.

There are four main types of soil used in landscaping and gardening: topsoil, garden soil, raised-bed soil, and potting soil. Each is intentionally designed to work best for a specific purpose. Topsoil is exactly what the name implies: soil taken from the very top layer of native ground. Because all native soil is composed of different ratios of clay, sand, and silt, topsoil is also composed of these materials. It's important to know what's really in topsoil and why it matters, especially when you're considering using it in your garden or planters. Due to its composition, topsoil doesn't drain well, compacts easily, and gets very heavy when wet. These are a few important reasons why it doesn't make a good planting medium for use in planters, especially if you want to move them around.

The best soil type for planter pots is potting soil. There are many things that plants need from their soil in order to thrive. When growing plants in pots, it's important to consider proper nutrients, good drainage, and room for roots to spread. Potting soil is the best medium for these needs. Potting soil or mix is composed of an organic component like peat moss or coco coir, something for aeration like vermiculite or perlite, and possibly fertilizers or other amendments. There are many types of potting mixes to choose from, depending on your plant's needs. Each type will have varying levels of the same core components of potting soil.

Before you add your potting mix to your planter, it's important to loosen it up and moisten it first. Grab a bowl or bucket, place the soil into the container, and give it a toss with your hands to make sure there are no clumps. Add water until the soil is evenly moist; it should have the consistency of kinetic sand. Fill your pot about halfway, add your plant, cover with soil to 1 inch below the planter's edge, and water when the soil is dry about 1 inch deep.

If you really want to use topsoil in your planters, only incorporate it into a mix; don't use it by itself. The most topsoil you should use in a DIY potting mix is one-third of the total mix. Never compress the soil once you have added your plant.