The top 3 recommendations and buying guides

Purchase criteria

Classification / suitability

Depending on how the proportions of inorganic material, humus and nutrients are will Mother Earth divided into different classes. The pH value and water permeability are also important parameters for classification. Ultimately, the only thing that matters is that topsoils are intended for different uses depending on their composition.

Note on pH: Most plants thrive optimally at a pH of 5.5 to 7.

Basically important properties of good mother earth at a glance:

• crumbly
• well ventilated
• easily rootable
• able to absorb sufficient rainwater

colour

High-quality mother earth is dark in color - due to the high proportion of humus and the countless soil organisms. The lighter it looks, the more it has been mixed with the sub-floor - something that should actually be avoided and that is a clear sign of poor quality.

Composition / sieving

Simple, coarse mother earth usually still contains roots and pieces of roots. Means that weeds and other unwanted plants will sprout from it later. So-called "Topsoil like grown ”you should therefore NOT buy.

Instead, use sieved soil. This is a little more expensive, but the investment is worth it. With the soil prepared in this way, all the coarse parts are sifted out.

Sieved mother earth is usually available with a grain size of 0 to 20 or 0 to 30 millimeters. Weed seeds may also be contained here, but you will definitely not encounter roots, rhizomes and coarse stones in such topsoil.

In addition, the mother earth must not have any rubble, glass or film scraps (garbage or compost bags). Ideally, it is also free from wood and shredded chips.

Free from harmful substances

Furthermore, make sure that the mother earth has been proven to be free of pollutants. Have the relevant certificate shown to you - especially important if you want to grow vegetables and fruit with the soil.

lot

How much mother earth do you need? Make sure an offer fully covers your needs so you don't have to mix different floors.

costs

We recommend that you do not just take the first offer, but rather several offers with regard to the Compare costs with each other - of course, always on the condition that the quality it's correct. And: If you're in a hurry, you can't wait, of course, but should grab the first qualitatively convincing offer at a reasonable price right away.

By the way: In our opinion, offers that are too cheap should be avoided, as they presumably imply inferior goods. Exception: You can get the mother earth free of charge from a construction site in your town.

frequently asked Questions

What is mother earth?

Mother earth, also called topsoil or topsoil, is a naturally occurring layer in the Garden soil. Here is an overview of the structure of a conventional garden soil:

• on top is the rotting / mulch layer consisting of grass residues, leaves and dead animals
• this is followed by the topsoil with a layer of about 30 centimeters
• underneath is the nutrient-poor, inorganic subsoil, ending with a stony subsoil

The term “topsoil” is no coincidence, as this layer of soil forms the basis for all living plants. It emerged from the earth's crust over the course of several thousand years.

In addition to (rain) water, the mother earth also contains bacteria, a wide variety of animal organisms (ants, worms, Spiders, caterpillars, larvae and other insects) as well as countless elementary nutrients, such as nitrogen and above all Oxygen.

Exciting numbers: Scientists have found that 0.3 cubic meters of mother earth - that corresponds to an area of ​​about 100 x 100 x 30 cm (LxWxD) - believe it or not, 1.6 billion living beings frolic. That is more than there are currently people on our planet earth (7.8 billion, as of October 2020).

Important note: Mother earth is not to be confused with commercially available flower or plant earth, which is extensively sieved, germ-reduced and mixed with fertilizer. The gigantic life that characterizes the topsoil cannot replace conventional earth.

What is mother earth for?

Mother earth is mainly used to level out unevenness in the terrain. Gardeners also use the topsoil as an underlayer for the lawn or for growing vegetables and fruits. Depending on the intended use, topsoil can be further improved or adapted with potting soil, humus, compost and fertilizer.

How do I calculate my mother earth requirement?

To calculate your mother earth needs, you will need a folding rule, a piece of paper, a pen, and a calculator.

1. Measure the construction pit (length, width and depth).
2. Write down the three values ​​in meters.
3. Multiply the values ​​together.

How to calculate the required volume of mother earth in cubic meters (m³). Our tip: add ten to 15 percent due to the compression.

You can find out how to convert the calculated cubic meters into tons here. Just scroll down a little.

Where can I buy mother earth?

First a preliminary remark: Mother earth is a natural product that cannot be produced artificially. In the case of construction projects, the unsustainable topsoil is excavated. It is (luckily) required by law that the mother earth must be stored and recycled separately from the subsoil. An important thing, after all, this precious soil is only created slowly over decades.

If you do not have any mother soil available for the planned plant in your garden, you can buy it. But: You will rarely find what you are looking for in common hardware stores such as OBI, toom, Bauhaus, Hornbach, Globus or hagebaumarkt or in specialist garden centers. Call your local hardware store beforehand to inquire. The situation is similar with Amazon and Co.

To get to the top, it is best to regularly check classifieds, either in the local newspaper or on specific online portals. Especially after large excavations, mother earth is often offered on various sales platforms. Do not forget to check the mother earth for the most important quality features before any payment, so as not to order inferior goods.

What is the cost of mother earth?

Mother earth is usually not cheap. The price depends on many factors, such as the volume and the grain size of the soil, but of course also on the individual discretion of the respective provider. In addition, you can expect the price per ton to decrease the more you buy. Usually the costs fluctuate between ten and 40 euros per ton.

How do I dispose of mother earth?

If you have excess mother earth yourself that you want to dispose of, you must act responsibly - on the one hand, because it It is forbidden to carelessly destroy the living natural resource, and on the other hand, because it is simply something precious acts. The following options are available to you to dispose of your topsoil sustainably:

• Seven mother earth and with a suitable car trailer (also rentable) or (for a short distance) with the wheelbarrow Take to a reputable horticultural company and hand it in there free of charge (ask in advance by phone!)
• place an ad and offer the topsoil as a gift or for sale (request collection!)
• Commission a specialist company to dispose of the excavated material

equipment

Pass-through sieve

If you want to sell mother earth yourself or offer it for free, you should sieve it beforehand. To do this is a Pass-through sieve required - with support and a mesh size of around ten to 15 millimeters.

wheelbarrow

Whether for collecting or transporting mother earth or for other work with the topsoil and in the garden in general: a wheelbarrow is always useful.