We ordered 3 yards of the garden soil, delivered mext day. We used in raised beds 6x3x2. It was more than needed for both but the soil looked good! I added some perlite to add some drainage since this is a little dense.
Thanks! We received your request.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Couldn't load pickup availability
We ordered 3 yards of the garden soil, delivered mext day. We used in raised beds 6x3x2. It was more than needed for both but the soil looked good! I added some perlite to add some drainage since this is a little dense.
For lawn leveling over Ames clay loam, a topdressing of 1 to 2 inches handles most minor grade corrections after winter. Garden bed construction and raised bed filling generally require 6 to 12 inches of fresh blended soil to give plant roots an adequate growing zone above the slow-draining native clay layer.
Use our free soil calculator
Thanks! We received your request.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Getting started is easy — just follow these simple steps
Make sure you adjust the quantity to your home's needs. You can use our calculator to estimate how much you'll need.
Select a delivery date you'd like for the product to be dropped off at your home
Sit back, wait, and let us work our magic to make sure the highest quality product is delivered to your driveway.
We ordered 3 yards of the garden soil, delivered mext day. We used in raised beds 6x3x2. It was more than needed for both but the soil looked good!...
We ordered 3 yards of the garden soil, delivered mext day. We used in raised beds 6x3x2. It was more than needed for both but the soil looked good! I added some perlite to add some drainage since this is a little dense.
Process was super easy and was delivered right when it said it was going too
ordering was smooth and easy. couldn't be happier
Use our NEW Trace from Satellite tool to get an estimate for your project based on an aerial view of your property
Try Our CalculatorTo estimate soil needs in cubic yards, measure your project area length and width in feet, then multiply by the target depth in feet (4 inches equals 0.33 feet, for example). Divide that result by 27 to convert cubic feet to cubic yards. Ames lawn leveling projects often require more material than expected because low spots hidden under grass can be deeper than they appear, especially after a winter with significant frost heave activity.
Once your soil is graded and settled, add a layer of bulk mulch to protect the surface from Ames spring rain impact and reduce moisture loss during summer dry periods. Decorative stone borders can define bed edges and prevent soil migration on sloped Ames properties where clay loam erodes during concentrated runoff events.
Ames clay loam becomes nearly unworkable when it dries out after a hot, dry July stretch, turning rigid and resistant to blending. If you are planning a soil delivery for a summer project, schedule it after a rain event when the ground is slightly moist but not waterlogged. Working dry, compacted clay alongside new topsoil makes blending very difficult and prevents good integration between soil layers, reducing the long-term benefit of the amendment.
Ames winters bring freeze-thaw cycles from November through March that can cause freshly placed topsoil to shift and settle unevenly across your yard or bed areas. If you are doing soil work in fall, give yourself at least three weeks before the October 6 average first frost for the soil to settle and compact naturally with rainfall before freezing temperatures arrive. This reduces the chance of significant heaving and uneven grades appearing come spring.
Central Iowa's clay loam retains water well but can become waterlogged during the heavy spring rains Ames typically receives from March through May. When building raised beds or filling low areas, grade the surface with a slight slope of 1 to 2 percent away from structures and toward open lawn. This small adjustment makes a meaningful difference in how quickly beds dry out and become workable after spring rain events, extending your usable planting window each season.
Native clay loam in Ames is dense, prone to compaction, and slow to drain, creating real challenges for anyone trying to establish a lawn, build a productive garden bed, or regrade a low-lying area of their property. While Story County soil is naturally fertile, its tight structure limits root penetration and causes standing water during the heavy spring rains common in central Iowa. Bulk premium topsoil allows Ames homeowners to correct grade problems, build productive garden beds above the native clay layer, and give new sod or seed a loose, workable surface to establish in. Lawn leveling is especially valuable before the growing season opens, since Ames winters create frost heave that leaves uneven ground across many yards. Raised beds filled with quality blended soil solve the drainage challenge entirely by lifting plant roots above the compacted clay. Whether you are starting a vegetable garden, overseeding a bare lawn area, or correcting drainage patterns near a foundation, bulk soil delivery is the most cost-effective approach for Ames projects of any scale.
Explore other options for landscape supply delivery in Ames, Iowa
