Question 1

How much topsoil do I need?

Accepted Answer

Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. A 20 × 10 ft area at 6 inches deep needs 100 cubic feet, or about 3.7 cubic yards.

Question 2

How deep should topsoil be for a new lawn?

Accepted Answer

Four to six inches of good topsoil over prepared sub-grade. Less than four inches dries out fast and the grass struggles in the first hot spell. Loosen the sub-grade before spreading so roots can pass through the interface.

Question 3

How much does a yard of topsoil weigh?

Accepted Answer

Roughly 2,000–2,200 lb dry, and up to 2,700 lb wet. That is around a ton per cubic yard, which is worth knowing before you plan to move it by wheelbarrow.

Question 4

How many bags of topsoil in a cubic yard?

Accepted Answer

About 36 bags at the common 0.75 cubic foot size. Past roughly ten bags, bulk delivery by the yard is usually cheaper even after the delivery fee.

Question 5

What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil?

Accepted Answer

Topsoil is screened native soil — a base material. Garden soil and raised-bed mixes are blends with compost and amendments added. Filling a raised bed entirely with topsoil gives you a dense bed that drains poorly.

Question 6

How much topsoil for a raised bed?

Accepted Answer

Multiply the bed dimensions by depth. A 4 × 8 ft bed 12 inches deep needs 32 cubic feet, about 1.2 cubic yards. Most gardeners use a mix of roughly 60% topsoil to 40% compost rather than topsoil alone.

Question 7

Should I till topsoil into existing soil?

Accepted Answer

Loosen the existing surface before spreading rather than tilling deeply. A sharp boundary between new topsoil and compacted sub-grade acts as a barrier to roots and water, which is the usual reason a new lawn fails on top of good soil.

Question 8

How do I top-dress a lawn with topsoil?

Accepted Answer

Spread a quarter to half an inch and rake it into the grass, so the blades still show through. A 1,000 ft² lawn at half an inch needs about 1.5 cubic yards. Anything thicker smothers the grass you are trying to improve.

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