Don't know about the soil, but I can't think of any plant that would be happy covering 4 inches. Hmmmm . . . take that back: some of the prairies forbs (not grasses) with roots that go down 5-15ft would tolerate it, like prairie dock.

I purchased about 25 yards of dirt over the last 3 years from Hermans Landscape Supply ( 952) 492-2783 16586 Johnson Memorial Dr, Jordan, MN 55352-9501). They deliver all over, I believe even to St. Paul. They have a garden mix of soil, coarse sand and manure that is pulverized and quite easy to shovel and carry by the wheel barrel. The last dump I got was $15.00 a yard, and delivery was $45 during the weekday. The problem with this soil I feel is that it was quite 'dead', being that it was pulverized. But I guess that's the hit you take when you have to have large amounts brought in. I don't believe its any different anywhere else if you are buying in large quanties unless they can tell you it dug right from the field and brought to your house. But its a lot better then buying it by the bag, that's for sure.

We just had some pulverized "black dirt" delivered through a local nursery. We are disappointed with it. We were assuming that anything advertised as topsoil or black dirt would have some organic matter in it, but it seems like it is just sand mixed in with clay. It doesn't seem like there is anything organic in it at all. I should have asked for more details about the mix before I purchased. Does anybody know generally what one can expect to be in material advertised by vendors as "topsoil" or "black dirt?" Are there any regulations that govern what can be sold as such?

We have bought several yards of what I believe they call "1-1-1" at Leitner's for about $40 a yard -- we went there and they dumped it into our trailer but they also deliver. It does seem rather pulverized and sandy, but all the things I grow do well in it. There were no weeds. I was not happy with Leitner's compost, though -- it just seemed like poorly chopped-up sticks and I'm guessing is what's left over when they sieve the compost to make the garden mix.