Truck Load of Top Soil- Planning a new bed.

Does anyone have an idea what the going prices for a truck load of top soil is? Pick up or Dump Truck. I am thinking of creating a bed on the west side of my yard. The area I would use is about 25 to 30 ft in length and prob 4 feet wide, maybe 5 in some areas. It is along the fence line. Has three Redtops, a couple of Crepe Myrtles, a couple small maples and one very large cedar at the end near the gate at the drive.. Gets some light but has really good shade.

I will have room for lots of things and I am open to suggestions. Actually I'm begging for suggestions. I am envisioning ALOT of hostas. I just love them.. but I would like some other fabulous ideas for planting as well..

Thanks in advance!!

Daisylovn

You've found a wonderful place here to explore all sorts of ideas! sounds like you have some great ideas already. I can offer a small bit of beginners' advice for you. Get good gloves and lots of Bengay :) Welcome!

Thanks Babeegirl.. I have finally found some really good gloves.. and I promise to stock up on the Bengay!! I love doing it but have learned quickly, it can be just as taxing as it is invigorating and satifying.

Word to the wise! Make sure you look at the top soil before you buy. What some people call top soil, is soil to mix in the top of your soil. A lot of time it is mostly sand. I am assuming that you want good soil, with good organic matter. I've never bought top soil so I can't give you a price. With the area you are talking about, you will need a good dump truck load. I would guess in the neighborhood of $200 plus.

Hi Daisy, I am not sure what garden soil goes for in you area, but we buy it by the yard, (3'x3'x3') which is about a pick-up load for $20 to $30 depending on where and what you buy. Be very careful add soil over established tree roots. Make sure you add no more than a couple inches as the roots will "smother" if you pile too much soil or mulch on top of them. It would take probably 3 to 4 yards to fill out that large an area.

This message was edited Sep 28, 2009 11:20 PM

Thanks! I was not aware of smothering the roots. Good info. When spreading the added soil it might be best to just keep it back from the root areas of the established trees. I can work around that and there are enough trees that it may even lessen the cost of the soil I do have to buy.

Jim, I appreciate your input as well. You are right, I want good organic soil.

Gosh I have so much to learn.. I'm glad I found this place and you very nice people. One day I hope to learn enough to give back..

Oh!! Any ideas of what other types of plant would thrive is such an area.
I am in zone 8a. South Alabama.

Daisy, here are a few links for plants for shade/part shade that should do well in your area.

http://www.backyardgardener.com/shade/zone8.html

http://www.plantideas.com/shade/zone8.html

http://www.sharedvisions.com/explore/gardens/Ferns/ferns.htm

Hope these give you some ideas...Moon

We paid 30/yard for a topsoil/compost mix this spring. The topsoil was cheaper than that.

as far as shade goes I love coral bells and have several in my shade garden. I also have lungwart and of course hosta.

Theoretically, at least, you want the top soil to be weed seed free.

Have seen some bad experiences with soil delivered containing lots of weed seeds, e.g. thistles. In the latter case, the customer did insist on replacement of the soil by the supplier. Have had triple mix delivered myself with wild (runners, not clump formers) New England aster seeds in it, though these plants were not that difficult to eliminate over several years.

I now upgrade soil with weed free shrimp compost and should also investigate using mushroom compost.

Daisy, you remind me of me in the yard. As long as you are getting excited over a new plant then you have the fever girl. Have fun! I too am in zone 8 and can give you a list of things that I have gotten to grow. I can also give you a list of what hasn't lol.

Hi Daisy,

We put in a new bed this year and started by putting down a thick layer of corrugate and newspaper instead of purchasing weed mat. We ordered a mixture of topsoil and compost and it cost us 25 dollars a yard plus 50 for delivery. We started it when the ground was still hard at the end of winter so that the truck could come in right over the lawn and dump exactly were we would be needing it.

It looked like this at first.

Just to add to your excitement over a new bed, look what we ended up with (almost no weeds because of close planting and the paper under the soil.....I also have fun stuffing straw around everything that I plant to help with weed control and benefit the soil when the straw breaks down)

This is what it looked like when it first started waking up and before the cannas and dahlias completely overtook the area. The rose bushes and climbing roses were not up yet either.

I know that yours will be a shade garden. I have only one of those that I truly love, but I wanted you to see how quickly you will be rewarded with your labor of love!!

Don't forget to show us your progress in this thread.

Teri

This message was edited Oct 5, 2009 6:51 AM

Oh Yes!! am SOOO excited.. Teri, My hubby wants me to wait until winter to bring the delivery truck in when the ground will still be hard/firm so as not to tear up the yard.. We are going to have to have a dump truck deliver the amount of soil that I will need.. I can hardly wait, but that does give me time to prepare the bed before Spring arrives. Thanks for sharing your before and after pics... Just gives me even more inspiration.

Flowers_Delight, I definitely, without a doubt, got The FEVER!!! I would love a list of what you have had success with and what has flopped.. I need all the ideas I can get... That bed is going to be HUGE!!! I think I was wrong about the length.. and it is going to be longer than I anticipated..

My hubby wants me to do a "straight line" bed.. because he has to cut the grass (5 acres) around here.. So I'm going to be considerate and do that for him. I also pointed out by changing that area into a beautiful bed it means he no longer has to cut it and that means no more having to bend done on the mower and swerving all through the area to cut around the trees. It is a tedious area to cut grass. : ) He liked my plan once I pointed those things out. Ha!!





This message was edited Oct 13, 2009 4:51 AM