Inorganic subsoil for filling holes, raising low ground, and backfill. Small rocks and bits of stick or root are normal in the mix, this is structural material and not a growing medium. Do not use it to level a lawn surface or fill flower beds, put topsoil over it for anything you want to plant. Place it in lifts and compact as you go.
First time going with this company for mulch and it was an efficient process from start to finish. Website was easy—I told them exactly where I wanted the mulch put on my driveway, and it was delivered perfectly when I got home from work the next day. Best deal around when I c...
Tell us what you're looking for
Thanks! We received your request.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
How Much Fill Dirt Do I Need?
One cubic yard of fill dirt covers about 54 square feet at a 6 inch depth, and most jobs here call for 6 to 12 inches depending on how low the area is. Measure the low spot in square feet, decide your target depth, and order in cubic yards from there, rounding up rather than down since a return trip costs more than a little extra material. Backfill jobs around a foundation or pool wall usually run smaller in area but need the full 12 inches to build real structure. Estimate fill dirt with our free topsoil calculator
What is a Yard?
A yard is approximately 27 cubic feet. As a general guideline, one yard of material can cover an area of about 100-160 square feet at a 2-3 inch depth.
We can't take orders for this right now. Tell us what you need and we'll get back to you.
What do you need?
Thanks! We received your request.
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Hand-picked local yards
4,000+ regional deliveries
Dedicated support
Why order through Mulch Mound
The best local fill dirt, without the guesswork.
We hand-pick and partner with the best yards in your region, keep only the ones our buyers rate well, and back each load with our guarantee.
Mulch Mound Guarantee
If your fill dirt isn't the quantity or quality you ordered, we'll make it right.
About this fill dirt
Inorganic subsoil for filling holes, raising low ground, and backfill. Small rocks and bits of stick or root are normal in the mix, this is structural material and not a growing medium. Do not use it to level a lawn surface or fill flower beds, put topsoil over it for anything you want to plant. Place it in lifts and compact as you go.
First time going with this company for mulch and it was an efficient process from start to finish. Website was easy—I told them exactly where I wanted the mulch put on my driveway, and it was delivered perfectly when I got home from work the next day. Best deal around when I c...
How Much Fill Dirt Do I Need?
One cubic yard of fill dirt covers about 54 square feet at a 6 inch depth, and most jobs here call for 6 to 12 inches depending on how low the area is. Measure the low spot in square feet, decide your target depth, and order in cubic yards from there, rounding up rather than down since a return trip costs more than a little extra material. Backfill jobs around a foundation or pool wall usually run smaller in area but need the full 12 inches to build real structure. Estimate fill dirt with our free topsoil calculator
What is a Yard?
A yard is approximately 27 cubic feet. As a general guideline, one yard of material can cover an area of about 100-160 square feet at a 2-3 inch depth.
First time going with this company for mulch and it was an efficient process from start to finish. Website was easy—I told them exactly where I wan...
Read full review
First time going with this company for mulch and it was an efficient process from start to finish. Website was easy—I told them exactly where I wanted the mulch put on my driveway, and it was delivered perfectly when I got home from work the next day. Best deal around when I compared it to competitors and I will definitely be becoming back.
Wonderful experience! They put the mulch exactly where we wanted. This mulch spread very easily and didn’t have the usual “mulch smell.” We will de...
Read full review
Wonderful experience! They put the mulch exactly where we wanted. This mulch spread very easily and didn’t have the usual “mulch smell.” We will definitely use again!
Most fill dirt jobs in Ashland get capped with a layer of topsoil once the grade is set, since nothing grows well straight into subsoil. If the finished area is going to see grass, a topsoil order on top of the fill gets you a surface that will actually hold seed or sod. For pool or foundation backfill, some contractors also bring in a bit of gravel at the base for drainage before the fill goes in.
Do not dump fill dirt in one deep pile and call it done. Spread it in lifts of 6 to 8 inches and compact each one before adding the next, especially in Ashland's clay soil, which holds moisture and will not settle evenly on its own. Skip this step and you will likely see the fill sink unevenly over a year or two, sometimes pulling a patio slab or fence post down with it.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
The most common mistake we see is treating fill dirt like topsoil and planting straight into it. It has no organic matter and compacts hard, so grass seed struggles and roots stay shallow. Always cap finished fill with 4 to 6 inches of real topsoil before seeding or sodding, and give the fill a chance to settle through a rain or two first if your timeline allows it.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
If you are filling a large low area, order fill dirt for the bulk of the depth and save topsoil for just the top layer, since fill costs less per yard and you do not need topsoil quality where nothing is growing. This split approach also compacts better, because straight topsoil does not pack down as predictably as screened subsoil does.
Grading and Filling in Ashland
Ashland's silt clay loam does not drain fast, and with 551 feet of elevation and low ground near the Ohio River, plenty of lots downtown and closer to the water hold puddles for days after a storm. Fill dirt is how you raise that grade before you ever think about grass or landscaping. Because it is a structural material and not topsoil, it needs to go down in lifts and get compacted, especially with our clay content, or you will be watching low spots reappear for a couple of years. This is job dirt for foundations, pools, and grading, not something you plant into directly.
What Fill Dirt Is
Fill dirt is inorganic subsoil sold for volume and grade, not for growing. Small rocks and bits of stick or root are normal in the mix. It compacts predictably, which is exactly what you want under slabs, in trenches, and behind walls.
Fill Dirt vs Topsoil
Fill dirt builds the shape of the ground, topsoil grows things on top of it. Bring the grade up with fill, then cap it with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil anywhere grass or plants are going in.
Compact in Lifts
Place fill in layers of 4 to 6 inches and compact each one before adding the next. Dumping the full depth at once leaves voids that settle later, and settling is the one problem fill is supposed to solve.
Frequently Asked Questions
Click a question to see the answer
Answer
Can I plant grass directly in fill dirt in Ashland?
No, fill dirt is subsoil with no organic matter, and it compacts too hard for good root growth. Cap it with 4 to 6 inches of topsoil once the grade is set and compacted. This is standard practice for any low spot or regrading job here before seeding or sodding.
Answer
How many cubic yards of fill dirt do I need for a low spot in my yard?
One cubic yard covers about 54 square feet at a 6 inch depth. Measure your low area in square feet, decide if you need 6 or 12 inches based on how low it sits, and divide accordingly. Most residential low spot jobs in Ashland run somewhere between 3 and 10 cubic yards.
Answer
When is the best time to bring in fill dirt around here?
Fill dirt is project driven, not seasonal, so it works any time the ground is not frozen or saturated. With our last frost around April 15 and first frost around October 13, spring and fall give you the driest windows to compact properly, since Ashland's clay soil holds moisture longer after rain.
Answer
Will the delivery truck be able to reach my backyard or pool area?
Dump trucks need a clear path at least 10 to 12 feet wide with decent overhead clearance, and we place material as close to your work area as the truck can safely reach. If access is tight, especially on some of Ashland's older, narrower lots, let us know so we can plan the drop spot with you.
Answer
What is the difference between fill dirt and topsoil for my project?
Fill dirt is subsoil meant for structure, raising grade, and backfilling, while topsoil has organic matter and is meant for growing. Use fill dirt for the bulk of any low spot or backfill job, then cap with topsoil only where grass or plants need to establish. Mixing them the other way wastes topsoil on ground that will get buried anyway.
