Re: OT - Top soil choice
- Subject: Re: OT - Top soil choice
- From: M* T*
- Date: Thu, 14 Jun 2001 18:05:54 -0400
Very difficult to determine. You can't really tell without an
analysis. Color isn't always an indicator of what soil composition
is. If they really know what the clay content is then they should
also know what the *rest* of the content is...and if they don't have
that information, they don't *know* what the actual clay content is.
If you are getting this from a company that deals in topsoil, they
should be in a position to certify the actual composition...and tell
you what it is. You should also find out what the NPK is so you know
whether its got nutrients or is depleted or what. There are also
issues of residual herbicides and pesticides in soil from crop
fields, I would imagine and things like heavy metals...
My advice is to know what your getting before you buy it:-)
Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor: Gardening in Shade
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> From: EBT <ebt007@prodigy.net>
>
> I am buying top soil for my new borders. There are two types to
choose from,
> which are still the same inspected grade according to the
contractor. One
> type comes from a former corn field and looks dark black. The other
comes
> from a former soy bean field and looks more light brown. They say
the clay
> content is the same. Which one would be the better choice? From the
look of
> them I lean toward the black stuff. To really know for sure I guess
I need a
> soil analysis, but short of that maybe there are some general
guidelines?
>
> Thanks,
> Eva Thorn, Chicago, IL
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