Soil Calculator

Calculate how much soil you will need for your landscaping project

Calculator

Project

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Soil Specifications

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Area to Cover: 0 sq ft
Bags Needed: 0
pH Adjustment Tips

Conduct a soil pH test to determine the specific amendment needs for your project.

How to use this calculator?

When using this calculator, each input helps calculate an accurate estimate for your project.

  • Project Type: Select whether you are working on a lawn installation, garden beds, raised beds, or potted plants/trees. This affects the pH adjustment tips provided.
  • Measurement System: Choose between the U.S. customary measurement system (i.e., square feet and inches) or the metric system (i.e., square meters and centimeters) based on needs.
  • Area Shape: Specify the shape of the area (i.e., rectangular, circular, or irregular) to accurately calculate the area of interest based on your garden or landscape layout.
  • Current Soil Condition: Indicate the characteristic of the existing soil (i.e., poor, fair, good or excellent) based on its type.
  • Soil Type Needed: Choose the new type of soil (i.e., topsoil, garden soil, potting mix, compost) being considered for your project. This factors into the provided pH adjustment tips.
  • Desired Soil Depth: Enter your desired soil depth.
  • Soil Packaging: Select the size of the soil bags or if the soil will be purchased in bulk to estimate how many bags will be needed for your project.

Understanding Soil

How to use this calculator?

When using this calculator, each input helps calculate an accurate estimate for your project.

  • Project Type: Select whether you are working on a lawn installation, garden beds, raised beds, or potted plants/trees. This affects the pH adjustment tips provided.
  • Measurement System: Choose between the U.S. customary measurement system (i.e., square feet and inches) or the metric system (i.e., square meters and centimeters) based on needs.
  • Area Shape: Specify the shape of the area (i.e., rectangular, circular, or irregular) to accurately calculate the area of interest based on your garden or landscape layout.
  • Current Soil Condition: Indicate the characteristic of the existing soil (i.e., poor, fair, good or excellent) based on its type.
  • Soil Type Needed: Choose the new type of soil (i.e., topsoil, garden soil, potting mix, compost) being considered for your project. This factors into the provided pH adjustment tips.
  • Desired Soil Depth: Enter your desired soil depth.
  • Soil Packaging: Select the size of the soil bags or if the soil will be purchased in bulk to estimate how many bags will be needed for your project.

Soil Basics: Types, Composition, and Importance

Soil is composed of minerals, organic matter, water, and air.

The common soil types are:

  • Sandy soil: Drains quickly, warms up fast, and is low in nutrients
  • Clay soil: Holds water and nutrients well, but drains poorly and compacts easily
  • Silty soil: Retains moisture, and is rich in nutrients, but can become waterlogged
  • Loamy soil: balanced mixture of sand, silt, and clay

Soil volume is a critical factor in successful gardening and landscaping. The amount of soil available to plants directly impacts their health, growth potential, and long-term survival.

Soil volume is important for the following reasons:

  • Root Development: Adequate soil volume helps plants develop healthy root systems.
  • Nutrient Availability: Adding soil volume creates a nutrient reservoir. An increase in soil tends to result in more nutrients being available to plants, reducing the frequency of fertilization needed.
  • Water Management: An appropriate soil volume tends to extend the time between waterings.
  • Temperature Regulation: As an insulator for plant roots, adequate soil volumes protect roots from extreme temperatures.

How to Choose and Apply the Best Soil Mix for Thriving Plants

Choosing the Right Soil Mix

The quality of your soil mix directly impacts your gardening or landscaping needs. Consider the following options:

  • Topsoil is the uppermost layer of soil, rich in organic matter and nutrients. Its ideal for gardens and lawns and flower beds.
  • Compost is decomposed organic material that enriches soil. It is improves soil fertility and structure.
  • Garden Soil is a blend of topsoil and composted materials. Its ideal for vegetable gardens and flower beds.
  • Potting Mix is lightweight, well-draining mix designed for plant containers. Its best for potted plants and indoor plants.

Tips for Successful Soil Application

  1. Soil Testing: Test your existing soil's pH and nutrient levels before adding new soil.
  2. Layering: When adding new soil, mix it with existing soil to prevent layering, which can impede root growth.
  3. Watering: After adding soil, water the area to help it settle and eliminate air pockets.
  4. Mulching: Apply mulch on top to retain moisture and suppress weeds.

Common Mistakes in Soil Estimation

  • Ignoring Soil Settling: Soil can settle by 10-15%.
  • Not Considering Soil Type: Different soils have varying densities and properties.
  • Overlooking Existing Soil: The current soil should always be evaluated before adding a new soil mix.

Amendment Guides

Amendments are materials added to soil to improve its physical, chemical, or biological properties. These materials modify soil structure, alter pH levels, provide essential nutrients, or enhance beneficial microorganism activity.

Soil Amendments are important for the following reasons:

  • Improve Soil Structure: Amendments improve aeration and drainage, helping roots grow deeper and stronger.
  • Adjust Soil pH: Materials like lime (to raise pH) or sulfur (to lower pH) create the ideal pH range for nutrient absorption and healthy plant growth.
  • Enhance Nutrient Content and Availability: Organic matter and fertilizers enrich soil with essential nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, making them more accessible to plants.
  • Support Soil Biology: Amendments promote beneficial microbes and earthworms, which break down organic matter and improve soil fertility naturally.
  • Increase Sustainability: Using compost and other natural amendments reduces waste, limits chemical use, and builds healthier soil over time for future plantings.

The following table provides a helpful reference for choosing soil amendments based on each soil type:

SoilRecommended Amendment
Heavy clay soilCompost, sand, gypsum
Sandy soilCompost, coconut coir
Acidic soil (low pH)Lime, wood ash
Alkaline soil (high pH)Sulfur, peat moss