Quality topsoil for lawns, gardens, and landscape projects. Nutrient rich and ready to support strong root development and healthy plant establishment.
This review compares my experience with Mulch Mound compared to another local company that has delivered soil to me. The soil purchased from Mulch Mound was for two more of my large raised beds for flowers and vegetables-- I have 8 total beds. 1st- the ordering process was v...
Quality topsoil for lawns, gardens, and landscape projects. Nutrient rich and ready to support strong root development and healthy plant establishment.
This review compares my experience with Mulch Mound compared to another local company that has delivered soil to me. The soil purchased from Mulch Mound was for two more of my large raised beds for flowers and vegetables-- I have 8 total beds. 1st- the ordering process was v...
How Much Material Do I Need?
For lawn top-dressing in Keene, 1 to 2 inches of screened topsoil is enough to improve thin areas without burying existing grass. For new garden beds or raised bed construction, plan on 6 to 12 inches of quality soil to give roots room to grow above the compacted glacial till base.
Use our free soil 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.
This review compares my experience with Mulch Mound compared to another local company that has delivered soil to me. The soil purchased from Mulch...
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This review compares my experience with Mulch Mound compared to another local company that has delivered soil to me. The soil purchased from Mulch Mound was for two more of my large raised beds for flowers and vegetables-- I have 8 total beds. 1st- the ordering process was very easier with Mulch Mound and I was impressed with the follow-ups regarding my order and delivery. The soil calculator was easy to use but would not let me order 1.5 yards so I have too much left over soil. The wait time for delivery was very short and the actual delivery was excellent. The soil was deposited in the exact location requested. The biggest difference between the two companies was the quality of the soil. The Mulch Mound was not adequately ground up or pulverized. There a significant number of larger and smaller dirt clumbs that seemed to be clay and very difficult to break up. In fact, I have a 12 inch bolder of dirt that is solid. I never have had big dirt clods or a boulder with the other company. So, I am not sure if the Mulch Mound dirt is just landfill dirt or actual garden soil with compost like the other company, The other reviews were very positive about their soil quality so I may have just received a lower quality batch. I just hope this will be good for growing.
For soil projects, measure each area you plan to fill or top-dress and write down the square footage and target depth separately. Keene properties often combine multiple project types such as a lawn patch, a garden bed, and a low spot fill, each needing different depths, so running the calculator on each area individually and then adding the totals together gives you the most accurate order quantity.
Complete Your Outdoor Soil Project
Topping your new soil with a layer of mulch locks in moisture and moderates soil temperature through Keene's variable spring and fall weather, giving your investment in quality soil the best chance to support healthy plant growth. If you are also addressing drainage or building out a defined bed edge, adding a border stone product completes the project and keeps soil from washing away during heavy rain events.
Can I just amend my existing glacial till soil instead of bringing in new topsoil?
You can amend over time, but Keene's glacial till is compacted, rocky, and very low in organic matter, which means meaningful improvement through amendment alone takes several growing seasons. If you need productive soil this year for a vegetable garden or a new lawn seeding after the May 27 frost date, bringing in bulk topsoil or garden soil is the faster and more reliable approach.
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How deep should I put topsoil down for a new lawn in Keene?
For establishing a new lawn in Keene, a minimum of 4 inches of quality topsoil over the glacial till base gives grass roots enough loose, nutrient-rich material to establish before hitting the compacted layer below. Six inches is even better on properties with slopes or areas prone to frost heave, which is common in Zone 5b through the winter and early spring.
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When should I do my soil work in Keene to be ready for planting season?
The best window for major soil projects in Keene is mid to late May, after the ground is fully thawed and dried out from spring rains, and just before the May 27 last frost date passes. This gives you time to spread, grade, and let the soil settle slightly before you seed or plant, and the warm late-May temperatures help new plantings establish quickly once they go in.
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My Keene backyard has low spots that flood after heavy rain. Will topsoil help?
Low spots on Keene properties are common because glacial till's poor drainage creates depressions that collect water after rain events. Filling with quality topsoil and grading the area to direct water away from the low point is an effective solution. Pairing new topsoil with a stone drainage channel or dry creek bed can handle the flow during Keene's heavier rain events without eroding the filled area.
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What is the difference between topsoil and garden soil for Keene raised beds?
Topsoil is a general-purpose growing medium good for lawns, grading, and filling. Garden soil is a blended product with higher organic matter content, better aeration, and often added compost, making it better suited for vegetable and flower production in raised beds. Given that Keene's native glacial till is already low in organic matter, raised beds filled with a quality garden soil blend give vegetables and perennials the nutrient-rich, well-drained environment they need to thrive through a Zone 5b growing season.
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How much topsoil do I need for a 10 by 20 foot garden bed in Keene?
A 10 by 20 foot bed at 6 inches deep requires about 3.7 cubic yards of soil. Our calculator on this page will walk you through the exact math for any dimensions and depth. For raised beds in Keene where you are building up above the glacial till rather than tilling into it, the full depth of the bed needs to be filled with quality material since you cannot rely on the native soil below.
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Is bulk delivered topsoil screened and ready to use, or will it have rocks in it like Keene's native soil?
Our screened topsoil is processed to remove large rocks and debris before delivery, which is especially important in the Keene area where native soils are notoriously rocky due to the glacial till parent material. You may find occasional small stones in any natural topsoil product, but it will not have the large embedded rocks that make working with native Keene soil so frustrating.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
When spreading topsoil for a new Keene lawn, rake it to a level surface and then let it settle for a few days before seeding if you have the time. Keene's spring rains will naturally settle the surface and reveal any remaining low spots that need a second pass before seed goes down. Seeding into a settled surface gives better seed-to-soil contact and more even germination across the entire area.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
If you are building raised vegetable beds in Keene, position them to run perpendicular to any slope on your property. Keene's hillside lots can create significant runoff that erodes raised bed edges over a single growing season. Orienting beds across the slope and using a stone or timber border helps the new soil stay in place through the rainfall Keene regularly receives each year.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
After the October 3 average first frost, add a light layer of compost or garden soil to any bare raised bed surfaces before winter sets in. Keene's freeze-thaw cycles through November and December can cause settling and surface crusting in unprotected garden beds. A thin protective layer keeps the soil structure loose and ready to plant as soon as conditions warm after the May 27 last frost the following spring.
The Unique Landscape of Keene
Keene's native glacial till is a mixed blessing for homeowners. It is mineral-rich but heavily compacted, often loaded with embedded rocks, and slow to drain after rain events. Starting a lawn, vegetable garden, or raised bed directly in unimproved glacial till typically leads to poor germination, waterlogged roots, and stunted growth. Bringing in quality bulk topsoil or garden soil gives you immediate control over the growing environment without years of slow amendment work. With Keene's growing season starting in earnest after the May 27 last frost, having good soil in place early gives your plants the best possible start. Whether you are leveling a bumpy lawn left by frost heave or building up raised beds for better drainage on a sloped lot, bulk soil delivery puts you ahead of the season.
