You might think dirt is dirt. But that’s definitely not true when it comes to your garden soil. In fact, the type of garden soil you choose for your garden is hugely important. It will impact the growth (both in the short term and the long term) of your lawn, natives, flowers, trees, vegetables and anything else you choose to grow. And it will either support your garden with the nutrients it needs… or it won’t. That’s why it’s always a good idea to really think about the type of garden soil you’re laying down. But does it have to be premium garden soil? Could you get just as good results from another (cheaper) option? And what is really the difference between premium garden soil and every other kind? Let’s find out!
What’s the difference between premium garden soil and everything else?
The first thing we need to understand is what garden soil is. Garden soil mixes are not just dirt bagged up for your garden. Instead, they are pre-mixed soil products that are intended to be added to your existing garden beds to support them structurally and nutritionally. They typically contain fertilisers, wetting agents or other additives, or a mixture of all. And that means they can make the perfect addition to your garden. But when it comes to choosing the right garden soil, it can get a little more confusing. There are ‘normal’ grade soil mixes, premium grade, topsoil and organic? So, what’s the difference?
1. Normal grade soil mixes.
Normal grade soil mixes are generally your least expensive options. They aren’t typically labelled in any specific way (other than as garden soil) but will contain a good mix of organic materials and nutrient additives. While you won’t choose this soil for every garden project, it does have some fantastic uses. It can be a very good option when you have a large-scale project to undertake.
2. Premium-grade soil mixes.
Your next choice is a premium grade soil mix. Premium soils generally have a few added extras, such as decomposed granite soil. It also tends to be a quality mix of sand, silt and clay with a 30-40% addition of organic content. This allows water and air to penetrate the soil and the soil to retain water and nutrients for the long term. Premium garden soil is designed to help you grow a range of plants, trees and turf with an optimal mix of nutrients.
3. Top soil mixes.
Top soil mixes are generally created with a small amount of nutrients. These nutrients are designed to support a newly laid lawn to become established. The soil mix is also created to improve the soil structure, which will help new turf to strongly take root. Our Premium Top Soil mix is also high in organic matter and loam which means that it’s great for improving poor soils and clay-based soils.
4. Organic garden soil mixes.
In Australia, all ‘organic’ garden soils need to meet the requirements of Australian Standards 4419. These soils are designed to be chock full of nutrient-rich organics that are formulated to stimulate growth, encourage microbial activity, improve soil structure, provide increased wettability and increase nutrient levels. They are fantastic for all plants and vegetables and can even re-energise tired garden beds, lawns and trees. Our highest grade soil mix – the Botando Signature Series Garden Mix – falls into this category. And it’s an excellent choice for garden beds and raised garden beds, where you really want to boost the growth and vitality of your plantings. It’s organic, free from any green waste and packed full of carbon goodness. And because it’s got a higher organic content, more trace elements and also contains sandy loam, it can improve the structure of your soil as well.
What about green-waste-free soils?
What is green waste?
Green waste is a combination of organic and green waste that goes through processing at a green waste recycling facility and is used to create:
• Topsoil
• Potting mix
• Compost
• Recycled mulch
This waste is sourced from local tips from the green waste disposal area, which you might already be familiar with. People can dispose of palm fronds, wood, branches, weed clippings and other waste all in the one place.
This waste is then transported to a green waste processing facility where it is sorted to remove any rubbish or undesirable items that should not have been disposed of in the green waste area. After going through a grinder, the waste is laid out in windrows and covered in thermal materials. These are then heated to around 55 degrees for about 3 days to kill pathogens and pests. This green waste is then ready to be used in your soils and potting mixes. Because this green waste has only matured for 3 days, the organic matter in the green waste continues to break down and mature while it is in your potting mix, which sometimes causes potting mix to become mouldy as the green waste is not fully composted.
You might be thinking? But this sounds like a good thing. We are recycling and putting green matter back into the earth. Read on to find out why we don't use green waste in our soils...
Reason 1: The industry isn't regulated properly?
In Australia, the standard to which our soils, potting mixes and composts are held is not very thorough. This means that when it comes to soil production, there are a lot of places that cut corners. Even the Australian standards are very lenient when it comes to labelling soil as premium or putting it on the market.
Have you ever opened a bag of soil and found plastic, rocks or other man-made materials that should not be there? These items find their way into soil through green waste and sometimes lazy screening processes. When it comes to green waste, plastics and weeds still find their way into the finished product, as well as other undesirable items. Treated wood, for example, can contain arsenic, and there is no way to account for harmful liquids which might make their way into green waste due to people chucking anything and everything into the green waste area.
In our book, this doesn't make this soil safe for kids, pets and the environment.
Reason 2: Your soil mix isn't going to be consistent
Not all organic matter is made equal, and each type of organic matter has its pros and cons. Grass clippings, for example, have high nitrogen content, while branches are going to break down at a slower rate than their leaves. This means that each batch of green waste produced is going to have slightly different properties based on its combination of organic ingredients.
This is why sometimes you can buy some soil, and it works really well for you and other times you can buy from the same brand, but the mix is not as good. Most big soil brands use green waste without testing and regulating the mixes to ensure consistency of product.
Reason 3: Green Waste Mixes are not fully composted
As mentioned earlier, green waste is left to mature sometimes as little as 3 days before being shipped off and sent to soil plants. While the heat of the green waste helps to speed up the composting process, it is not fully composted when it is sent out. While this is marketed as a good thing by many companies- as it is promoted as slow-release or a compost that continues to service your plants for longer.
Our compost goes through a similar process by getting heated in windrows and turned; the difference is that our compost is left to fully mature. This means that by the end of the process it is odour-free and rich in ready-to-use carbon.
The composting process is basically a way to feed your plant with carbon; however, the very act of composting requires several complex mineral processes to happen within your soil. If you add a non-mature compost to your soil, the microbes not only need to help break down the compost but feed your plant too. If the legwork has already been taken out of the process and you add soil with fully matured compost, this can be taken up by your plant right away and will provide it with a steady supply for maximum growth.
Reason 4: Green waste just can't compete with thousands of years of nature.
The recycling and composting of green waste just can't do in three days what the earth beneath our feet has done since the dawn of time. For certain soil blends in our range, our base uses alluvial soils from the Lockyer Valley - the much-coveted black soils, rich in minerals, carbon and all the good stuff. The river soil we use is also infused with the flora and fauna of years gone by, creating a consistent mix that is all from the same area and consistent in its quality.
What to choose for your garden project?
When it comes to your next garden project, you’ll want to choose the right garden soil. Normal grade soils are fantastic when you’re on a budget or are just filling holes and divots. But if you choose to use them for your garden beds, you’ll need to remember to put more time and effort into keeping the nutrients topped up with fertilisers. Premium garden soils are a much better option. They’ll give your garden a fantastic base for growth and support from the start. And if you really want to see your garden thrive, choose ultra-premium organic soils. These will see you in an enviable position from day one!
Garden soils don’t have to be a dirty secret! We’ve got all the right advice to help you make a great decision that’s in budget and will give you fantastic results. Just get in touch with our soil experts and let us help you get started on getting the greenest and most lush garden in the neighbourhood. Don’t forget to keep an eye on our product info page for more backyard ideas, and our how to page for more helpful posts like this one.