Composition, weight and use

the essentials in brief

• Topsoil is the uppermost, fertile soil horizon to a depth of 20 to 30 cm.
• The protected natural asset is a finite resource made up of humus, Nutrients, innumerable soil organisms and inorganic minerals.
• With a weight of 1.3-1.5 tons per cubic meter, topsoil serves as an important livelihood for plants, people and animals.

How much does 1 m³ topsoil weigh?

If the client knows the required volume of topsoil, the question arises as to the weight per cubic meter in the room. Like most building materials, it will be heaped up loosely Mother Earth usually not offered in cubic meters (m³) but in tons (t). The density of the substrate is closely related to the bulk density. Building material dealers and other suppliers offer topsoil in screened and finely screened quality. This results in the actual weight. The following table clarifies the relationships:

Please note with this information that topsoil is a natural product. Depending on the origin and composition, the values ​​can vary slightly. For example, some experts rate finely sieved mother earth 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 building or gardening project. As the table above reveals, significant differences in weight can only be recorded compared to normal garden soil, industrially or self-produced Potting soil.

The weight of mother earth can vary depending on its fineness

Calculate topsoil amount - this is how it works

A folding rule, paper, pencil and calculator are all that is needed to precisely determine topsoil requirements. Measure the length, width and depth of the construction pit. Make a note of the measured values ​​in meters. By multiplying all three values ​​together, you calculate the required volume of topsoil in cubic meters (m³). The formula in short:

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

It is easier with a practical requirements calculator, such as the customer-friendly building material dealers provide on the Internet (e.g. B. baustoffe-liefern.de or kieskaufen.at).

Conversion of cubic meters to tons

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

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

background

The topsoil is teeming with

Sift topsoil properly - instructions

Sifted topsoil from the specialist dealer has its price. Forward-looking builders treat the excavated material on their property carefully so that the free mother earth can be used for flower beds, vegetable gardens or lawns. For a quality that is suitable for plants, the soil has to be cleaned beforehand, because weeds, roots and rubble have to give way. How to sift topsoil in an exemplary manner:

Material requirements and tools

Please bear in mind that topsoil is a substance full of life. The substrate should be freed from impurities accordingly carefully. We recommend using a large-mesh sieve for topsoil and avoiding the use of machines so that microorganisms are not harmed. The use of a little muscle fat is rewarded with top quality mother earth. The material list is very short:

With a Pass-through sieve sifting topsoil is easy

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

Seven topsoil - instructions for beginners

A standard sieve weighs around 4 kilograms. For a rational workflow, it is therefore advisable to set up the sieve where you want to distribute or fill up the sieved topsoil. You can move the sieve to where the soil substrate is needed without much effort. How to proceed professionally step by step:

1. Shovel contaminated topsoil in a wheelbarrow and drive to the sieve
2. Throw the earth through the sieve, shovel by shovel
3. Put any waste collected in front of the sieve into the bags
4. Move the sieve when a large amount of clean mother earth has accumulated
5. with the Rake Spread the sifted topsoil

Sieved components are usually not suitable for disposal on the compost. At best, pieces of root from the lower layer of compost heaps or raised beds are used. Smaller natural stones (no rubble) act as drainage material in tree planting pits or under pavement slabs. For this reason, the material list includes garbage bags in which you can collect unusable components and transport them to the nearest landfill.

How to dispose of topsoil in an exemplary manner

Large amounts of topsoil are often expensive to dispose of

In large quantities, topsoil does not always give the owner unadulterated joy. In fact, private builders or hobby gardeners are confronted with the question: where to put excess topsoil? The legislature has a say in this, because careless disposal or even destruction of living natural resources is prohibited and is punishable by high fines. The following options are available to dispose of mother earth in accordance with the law and inexpensively:

• Rent a truck with a driver, shovel topsoil onto the loading area and transport it away
• Sift topsoil, drive with a car trailer to the nearby horticultural farm and hand it in free of charge
• Excavation Publish it in Bodenbörse and have it picked up by interested parties
• Disposal by a specialist 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 for the production of concrete.

Digression

Topsoil humus difference

Laying paving slabs on topsoil - tips & tricks

Pavement slabs can also be laid without cement

Pavement slabs are gaining ground as the ideal alternative to paved paths in the garden. Laying in steps and at ground level, unkempt paths are a thing of the past thanks to decorative step plates. Further advantages argue for the natural solution: no cement is required. Pavement slabs are not an obstacle for lawn mowers and robotic lawn mowers. The existing topsoil serves as the subsoil. This is how it works:

1. Lay out paving slabs along the route in increments
2. Measure distances (center of panel to center of panel)
3. Mark the plate positions with a groundbreaking ceremony
4. Put the footplates to one side
5. Cut out the sod as deep as the panels are high plus space for the substructure
6. Press the topsoil into place with a hand tamper
7. Spread sand (3-5 cm high)
8. Place pavement slabs on the sand bed and level them with a spirit level

Fill the remaining gaps between the step plate and the adjacent surface with topsoil or garden soil. Sludge the laid pavement slabs with water from the watering can for good contact with the floor.

Using topsoil for lawn - how does it work?

Lawn thrives best on fertile topsoil

the New installation Lawn becomes a successful project when the seedbed is on sifted topsoil. How much you replenish valuable mother earth depends on whether you only sow lawns or plant other plants in the middle of the green area, such as trees, bushes or perennials. For mixed planting, a minimum height of 30 centimeters for the topsoil has proven to be correct in practice. A pure green area needs a 15 to 20 centimeter high subgrade as a fine subgrade. The distribution of topsoil under turf only covers part of the work. How to properly use soil for lawns:

1. old Sward remove manually or with a peeling machine
2. Loosen up compacted subsoil with a rake or tiller
3. Dig up the existing topsoil spade deep and sieve it (see instructions above)
4. Enrich the loamy, wet soil with 15 kg of sand per m²
5. Improve dry, lean soil with sifted compost soil

Finally, you can use a folding rule and calculator to determine how much topsoil you need to purchase. Spread fresh mother earth under the lawn ideally on a previously laid mole net. The furry insectivores cannot resist the lure of topsoil with juicy beetles and thick larvae.

Buy topsoil cheaply - ideas for bargain hunters

The bigger the sack, the cheaper the earth

Visiting soil exchanges or locating free sources of topsoil nearby takes time. Builders and hobby gardeners with a full appointment calendar can order loose goods or bagged goods (Big Pack) and up to the Property line have it delivered. We looked around the market and compiled the following key data for an initial orientation about the costs:

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

Please note that the prices of building materials dealers, container services or other commercial providers of bulk goods are generally limited to a region. Furthermore, these suppliers only start their vehicles if they have a minimum purchase quantity. If this limit is fallen below, in some cases considerable Surcharges for small quantities at. Therefore, please ask carefully before you order topsoil and have it delivered.

In the hardware store in Obi or Hornbach as well as in local garden centers, however, you will find yourself in vain Look for topsoil in sacks, like you would with conventional potting soil familiar with.

frequently asked Questions

What is topsoil?

Top soil is the top layer of the earth

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

How much topsoil is placed under the lawn so that the grass grows tightly and evenly after sowing?

The noble grasses of the lawn usually have roots about 7 centimeters deep. So that yourself Lawn seeds transform into a lush green, dense carpet, the seedlings should find a subsoil of topsoil at least 15 centimeters deep as a fine subgrade. Ideally, you distribute the mother earth on a base about 5 to 10 centimeters thick as a rough subgrade. A mix of filling sand is well suited for this purpose, Compost soil and loamy garden soil as drainage.

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

Removing an old lawn for the new plant is too laborious and time-consuming for many hobby gardeners. Thanks to the sandwich method, this is not necessary at all. Mow the old green area as short as possible. Then comb with the Scarifier(€ 98.00 at Amazon *) Weeds and moss are thoroughly removed. The next step is to spread a six-inch 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 allowed to mix topsoil with cement to make concrete?

Top soil is a precious natural resource that has been created over the course of 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 forbidden to make harmful interventions in topsoil. At the top of the prohibited list is the addition of cement for the production of concrete.

How much topsoil has to be under turf?

Turf is peeled off the field in long strips and already has some topsoil in the luggage. With a thickness of 1.5 to 3 centimeters of the lawn strips, the amount of valuable mother earth is of course limited. We therefore recommend a 15 to 20 centimeter high layer as a substrate for turf sifted topsoil, which you place on a rolled coarse subgrade made of garden and compost soil with filling sand to distribute.

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 necessary when things get into it that have no business in mother earth. These include rubble, thick roots or large stones. Building material dealers and other commercial suppliers usually obtain topsoil from the excavation of land, which makes it imperative to filter out unsuitable components.

What should you watch out for when distributing topsoil on the property?

Good topsoil is characterized by a loose crumb. This consistency shouldn't be compromised when backfilling a plot of land with topsoil. Please distribute the soil substrate manually using spade, Rake and rake. This does not contradict the fact that you resort to the help of a motorized wheelbarrow for larger quantities. With a weight of around 50 kilograms, the resulting compaction is within the acceptable tolerance limit.

Tips

Topsoil plays the main role if you have one Create a vegetable patch. For potatoes, cabbage, lettuce and beans to thrive, the right substrate mixture is essential. A mix of 60% topsoil, 30% compost and 10% sand or has proven itself well Lava granules.(€ 14.00 at Amazon *) Spread the previously sieved earth generously with 20 to 25 liters per square meter.