The crossword puzzle solution for "topsoil containing with 5 letters" is: earthy. The valuable soil causes more headaches when it comes to professional use in the garden, under pavement slabs or as a base for lawns. However, correct needs assessment and precise conversion are not a closed book. Read this guide to find out how to calculate the optimal amount. Proven instructions explain how to spread topsoil skillfully and at the right height.

Topsoil goes about 30cm deep

Table of Contents

Show all
  1. the essentials in brief
  2. weight topsoil
  3. Calculate topsoil amount
  4. Instructions topsoil sift
  5. Dispose of topsoil properly
  6. Paving slabs on topsoil
  7. topsoil for lawns
  8. Buy cheap topsoil
  9. frequently asked Questions

    10. the essentials in brief

    • Top soil is the uppermost, fertile soil horizon down to a depth of 20 to 30 cm.
    • The protected natural asset is a finite resource composed of humus, nutrients, countless soil organisms and inorganic minerals.
    • With a weight of 1.3-1.5 tons per cubic meter, topsoil serves as an important basis for the life of plants, people and animals.

    How much does 1 m³ topsoil weigh?

    If the client knows the required volume of topsoil, the question of the weight per cubic meter arises. Like most building materials, loose topsoil is usually not offered in cubic meters (m³) but in tonnes (t). The density of the substrate is closely related to the bulk density. Building materials dealers and other suppliers offer topsoil in sieved and finely sieved quality. This results in the actual weight. The following table explains the relationships:

    weight per cubic metre
    sifted topsoil 1500 kg (1.5 tons)
    topsoil finely sieved 1350 kg (1.35 tons)
    Potting soil 0-15 mm 1000 kg (1.0 ton)
    Garden soil 0-15 mm 830 kg (0.8 t)

    With this information, please note that topsoil is a natural product. Values may vary slightly depending on origin and composition. For example, some experts rate finely sieved topsoil at 1350 kg/m³, other experts assume 1400 kg/m³. Of course, the differences are not so serious that they unhinge the weight per cubic meter and thus the budget for your construction or garden project. As the table above reveals, significant differences in weight are only noticeable compared to normal garden soil, industrial soil or home-made potting soil.

    The weight of topsoil can vary depending on the fineness

    tips

    A loose consistency is an important quality feature for good topsoil. Of course, compaction is unavoidable as a substrate for lawns or paving slabs. This circumstance increases the quantity required and weight by an average of 10 to 15 percent, which should be included in the calculation.

    Calculate the amount of topsoil - This is how it works

    Ruler, paper, pencil and pocket calculator are sufficient for a precise determination of topsoil requirements. Measure the length, width and depth of the pit. Write down the measured values in meters. By multiplying all three values together, you can calculate the required volume of topsoil in cubic meters (m³). The formula in short:

    • formula: height x width x depth = amount of topsoil in cubic meters (+ 10-15% due to compaction)

    It is easier to use a practical requirement calculator, such as that made available by customer-friendly builders' merchants on the Internet (e.g. baustoffe-liefern.de or kieskaufen.at).

    Convert cubic meters to tons

    Calculating the amount of topsoil in cubic meters is just the first step in requirements planning. For a tangible determination of the costs, the second step is the conversion into tons. In the DIY store or online trade, the prices given for loose goods are always based on one ton (= 1000 kilograms) of topsoil. The following table would like to provide practical help with the conversion:

    material density conversion
    kg/m³ 0.5t 1 ton 3T 5T
    sifted topsoil 1500 0.333m³ 0.667m³ 2,000m³ 3.333m³
    topsoil finely sieved 1350 0.370m³ 0.741m³ 2.222m³ 3.704m³
    potting soil 1000 0.500m³ 1,000m³ 3,000 m³ 5,000 m³
    garden soil 830 0.602m³ 1.205m³ 3.614m³ 6.024m³

    The following sample calculation illustrates the correct application of the table above. For sowing a strip of lawn 2.50 m wide and 8 m long, you have planned a 10 cm high base of topsoil. This results in a quantity of 2.5 m x 8 m x 0.10 m = 2.0 m³. A look at the table reveals that at least 3 t of screened topsoil have to be purchased to fill up 2.0 m³.

    background

    It abounds in the topsoil

    There are more organisms living in a handful of topsoil than there are people on earth. Scientists have determined that up to 1.6 trillion living things (1,600,000,000,000) live in 0.3 cubic meters of topsoil. This corresponds to an area of 1 m x 1 m up to a depth of 30 cm. In contrast, we humans are clearly in the minority with currently "only" 7.7 billion (7,700,000,000) on the entire planet.

    Sieving topsoil correctly - instructions

    Screened topsoil from a specialist dealer has its price. Forward-thinking builders treat the excavated soil on their property with care to use the free topsoil for flower beds, vegetable gardens or lawns. For a quality suitable for plants, the soil must be cleaned beforehand, because weeds, roots and rubble must be removed. This is how you sift topsoil in an exemplary manner:

    Material requirements and tools

    Please remember that topsoil is a substance teeming with life. The substrate should be cleaned of contaminants accordingly. To prevent microorganisms from suffering damage, we recommend using a large-mesh sieve for topsoil and not using machines. The use of a little elbow grease is rewarded with top-quality topsoil. The list of materials is extremely short:

    Sifting topsoil is easy with a throw-through screen

    • Pass-through sieve with support and mesh size of at least 10 cm, preferably 15 cm
    • spade
    • rake
    • working gloves
    • Wheelbarrow (for quantities of 1 cubic meter or more ideally as a rented motorized wheelbarrow)
    • waste bags

    Topsoil sifting - instructions for beginners

    A commercially available pass-through sieve weighs about 4 kilograms. For an efficient workflow, it is therefore advisable to set up the sieve where you want to spread or fill up sifted topsoil. Without much effort, you can move the sieve to where the soil substrate is needed. Here’s how to do it competently, step by step:

    1. Shovel contaminated topsoil into wheelbarrow and drive to the pass-through sieve
    2. Throw the earth through the sieve shovel by shovel
    3. fill the bags with the waste collected in front of the screen
    4. Relocate the sieve when a large amount of clean topsoil has accumulated
    5. distribute the topsoil sifted with the rake

    Screened out components are usually not suitable for disposal on the compost. At best, root pieces from the bottom layer of compost heaps or raised beds are used. Smaller natural stones (not construction waste) act as drainage material in tree planting pits or under pavement slabs. For this reason, the materials list includes waste bags that you can use to collect unusable components and transport them to the nearest landfill.

    This is how you dispose of topsoil in an exemplary manner

    Large amounts of topsoil often have to be disposed of at great expense

    In large quantities, topsoil does not always bring unalloyed joy to the owner. In fact, private builders or hobby gardeners are confronted with the question: what to do with excess topsoil? The legislature has a say in this, because careless disposal or even destruction of living natural assets is prohibited and will be punished with high fines. The following options are available to dispose of topsoil legally and cheaply:

    • Rent a truck with a driver, shovel topsoil onto the loading area and transport it away
    • Sieve topsoil, drive with a car trailer to the nearby gardening business and hand it in free of charge
    • Publish excavated earth in Bodenbörse and have it picked up by interested parties
    • Disposal by specialist company in the container

    In contrast, all procedures that result in the destruction of topsoil are taboo. This includes mixing the valuable soil substrate with cement to make concrete.

    digression

    topsoil humus difference

    Topsoil is not the same as humus. In fact, there is an important difference between the two soil substances. As the definition of experienced soil scientists tells us, topsoil is the upper, fertile horizon down to a depth of about 30 centimeters. Humus is the component in which life rages in the form of busy soil creatures, microorganisms and bacteria that take care of the structure and conversion of topsoil. At the same time, humus acts as a source of nitrogen for topsoil and thus represents the basis of life for soil organisms and plants alike. In addition, top soil contains inorganic components such as sand, clay or sediments.

    Laying paving slabs on topsoil - tips & tricks

    Paving slabs can also be laid without cement

    Paving tiles are on the rise as the ideal alternative to paved paths in the garden. Laid in step distance and at ground level, unkempt footpaths are a thing of the past thanks to decorative tread plates. There are other advantages in favor of the natural solution: no cement is required. Paving slabs are not an obstacle for lawn mowers and robotic lawnmowers. The existing topsoil serves as the subsoil. How to do it:

    1. Lay out paving slabs along the route in increments
    2. Measure distances (board center to board center)
    3. Mark plate positions with groundbreaking
    4. Put the stepping stones aside
    5. Cut out sod as deep as the slabs are high plus space for the substructure
    6. Press down the topsoil with a hand tamper
    7. Spread sand (3-5 cm high)
    8. Lay the paving slabs on the sand bed and align them with a spirit level

    Fill the remaining gaps between the tread plate and the adjacent surface with topsoil or garden soil. Slurry the laid paving slabs with water from the watering can for a good ground contact.

    Using topsoil for lawns - how does it work?

    Lawns thrive best in fertile topsoil

    Laying out a new lawn becomes a successful project when the seedbed is on sieved topsoil. How much valuable topsoil you fill up depends on whether you only sow lawns or whether you grow other plants in the middle of the green area, such as trees, shrubs or perennials. In practice, a minimum topsoil height of 30 centimeters has proven to be correct for mixed planting. A pure green area gets by with a 15 to 20 centimeter high base as fine subgrade. Spreading topsoil under turf covers only part of the work. How to properly use topsoil for lawns:

    1. Remove old turf manually or with a peeling machine
    2. loosen compacted subsoil with a rake or rotary tiller
    3. Dig up the existing topsoil to the depth of a spade and sieve (see instructions above)
    4. enrich loamy-wet soil with 15 kg of sand per m²
    5. improve dry, lean soil with sifted compost soil

    Finally, use a ruler and calculator to determine how much topsoil you need to purchase. Ideally spread fresh topsoil under the lawn on top of a previously laid mole net. The furry insectivores cannot resist the lure of topsoil with succulent beetles and fat larvae.

    tips

    Those who know their way around can get topsoil for free or very cheaply. The Federal Soil Protection Act and the Building Code stipulate that excess topsoil must be preserved in a usable condition. Across Germany, numerous land exchanges take care of bringing suppliers and interests together. You can read useful information at mutterboden.de. Here you will find contact details for all federal states and many cities, such as Berlin, Hamburg, Bremen, Düsseldorf, Cologne or Rostock.

    Buy topsoil cheaply - ideas for bargain hunters

    The bigger the sack, the cheaper the soil

    Visiting soil exchanges or finding free topsoil sources nearby takes time. Builders and hobby gardeners with busy schedules can order loose goods or sacks (big packs) and have them delivered to the property line. We looked around the market and compiled the following key data to give you an initial idea of the costs:

    • Building material suppliers: Big pack (500 kg) from EUR 150/piece, bulk goods (3 t minimum quantity) from EUR 280
    • Container services: topsoil/topsoil from EUR 11.50/t plus VAT and delivery costs
    • Composting sites: Sieved topsoil, enriched with sand and compost from EUR 23/t as bulk material
    • Civil engineering company: Unscreened topsoil from EUR 12/t as bulk material
    • Horticultural businesses: Price on request from the provider in the area

    Please note that the prices of builders' merchants, container services or other commercial suppliers of bulk goods are usually regionally limited. Furthermore, these suppliers only start their vehicles once a minimum purchase quantity has been reached. If this limit is not reached, considerable small-volume surcharges apply. Therefore, please ask carefully before you order topsoil and have it delivered.

    In the hardware store of Obi or Hornbach as well as in local garden centers you will look in vain for topsoil in sacks, as you are used to with conventional potting or plant soil.

    frequently asked Questions

    What is topsoil?

    Topsoil is the top layer of soil

    By definition, topsoil is the uppermost, most fertile soil horizon. The valuable layer of earth is also known as topsoil or topsoil. Farmers speak of the topsoil. Top soil is rich in nutrients, organic humus and densely populated with active soil organisms. Furthermore, mineral components are included, such as sand, granular sediments and clay. In Central Europe, the valuable topsoil extends to a depth of 20 to 30 centimetres. Beneath this, lean layers of soil begin with significantly fewer microorganisms and bacteria.

    How much topsoil goes under the lawn so that the grass grows dense and even after seeding?

    The noble grasses of the lawn usually have roots about 7 centimeters deep. In order for lawn seeds to turn into a lush green, dense carpet, the seedlings should find a subsoil of topsoil as fine subgrade that is at least 15 centimeters deep. Ideally, spread the topsoil on a roughly 5 to 10 centimeter thick base as rough subgrade. A mix of filling sand, compost soil and loamy garden soil as drainage is well suited for this purpose.

    We would like to create a new lawn on a green patchwork carpet. Is it possible to spread topsoil on old lawns as a base for sowing lawn seeds? How high should the soil layer be?

    Removing an old lawn for a new lawn is too tedious and time-consuming for many hobby gardeners. Thanks to the sandwich method, this is not even necessary. Mow the old lawn as short as possible. Then use the scarifier (€84.00) to thoroughly comb out weeds and moss. The next step is to spread out a 15 centimeter layer of sifted topsoil. This is the ideal substrate for lawn seeds or turf. Please note that the sandwich method only makes sense if the resulting height difference to neighboring surfaces is not a problem.

    Is it permissible to mix topsoil with cement to make concrete?

    Topsoil is a precious natural resource that has been formed over many thousands of years. For this reason, the life-giving soil substance is subject to strict legal protection. According to the Federal Soil Protection Act, it is prohibited under penalty to carry out harmful interventions in topsoil. At the top of the list of bans is the addition of cement to make concrete.

    How much topsoil needs to be under turf?

    Rolled turf is peeled off the field in long strips and already has some topsoil with it. With a thickness of 1.5 to 3 centimeters of the lawn strips, the amount of valuable topsoil is of course limited. We therefore recommend that you use a 15 to 20 centimeter high layer of sieved topsoil as a substrate for rolled turf, which you distribute on a rolled coarse level of garden and compost soil with filling sand.

    Should topsoil always be sifted?

    No, because good quality topsoil is full of life and should not be thrown through a sieve. Seven is only required when things have gotten in that shouldn't be in Mother Earth.This includes rubble, thick roots or large stones. Builders' merchants and other commercial suppliers mostly extract topsoil from the excavation of properties, which makes it imperative to filter out unsuitable components.

    What should be considered when distributing topsoil on the property?

    Good topsoil is characterized by a loose topsoil. This consistency should not be compromised when you fill in a plot with topsoil. Please distribute the soil substrate manually using a spade, rake and rake. The fact that you use a motorized wheelbarrow for larger quantities does not contradict this. With a weight of around 50 kilograms, the resulting compaction is within acceptable tolerance limits.

    tips

    Top soil plays the leading role when you create a vegetable patch. So that potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and beans thrive, it depends on the right substrate mixture. A mix of 60% topsoil, 30% compost and 10% sand or granulated lava has proven itself.

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