I thought I would pass along my good fortune in finding bagged topsoil that doesn't turn immediately to rock once dry. I will preface this by saying I tend to be very frugal (cheap, tight, which ever you prefer) and have in the past bought cheap topsoil then amended it for my raised beds.

This year was going to be different, I went to a soil and mulch place and was going to buy their lovely mushroom compost and topsoil that I had admired from afar, only to find after closer inspection, apparently they offered a 2 for 1 special...Buy the dirt get bermuda grass free. I hate to turn down a deal, but I really just needed the dirt. :-)

So, I found myself at Home Depot looking through their bagged dirt and I came across some that from what I could see, didn't look too bad and I decided to buy some.

I get this dirt home and start putting it in my new raised beds and I was really surprised. The top soil didn't have any rocks in it, it was full of bark and looked like good composted topsoil. I went ahead and blended it with a few other things to amend it. It may not be the best, but it far exceeds anything I have ever found in this price range (1.08).

I was so impressed, when I got ready to top dress my asparagus bed, I bought a bag of manure from the same company and decided to blend it with some mushroom compost. I poured some of each in the wheelbarrow and I couldn't tell where one started and the other ended. It even smelled and looked like composted manure, same bark fines and texture of the topsoil. Again, might not be the best, but for the price (1.30), looks pretty good.

It was Sure Gro topsoil and Delta Select manure, both by Louisiana Soil Products and on the bag it says their goal is to exceed your expectations and as far as I am concerned, they did.

Looks as good as, or better, than some of the Miracle Grow garden soil and mushroom compost I have bought in the past and it maintains my frugality better than either of those.

I thought I would share, because I knew you all could share in my appreciation of "good dirt". Most think I have lost my mind - Raised beds?, good dirt? what?, why?, that's too much work.......

I'm off to finish my last bed for this spring.

Michelle