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 new garden beds in La Crosse, plan on 6 inches of quality topsoil over your native silt loam to give roots a workable zone above the compacted subsoil layer. Lawn leveling projects typically need 2 to 3 inches spread evenly and raked smooth before seeding, which gives grass enough depth to root without smothering existing turf.
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.
Measure the square footage of your project area and decide on your target depth, typically 4 to 6 inches for garden beds and 2 to 3 inches for lawn top-dressing. Multiply square feet by depth in feet and divide by 27 to convert the result to cubic yards. In La Crosse, it is wise to order slightly more than your calculation suggests because silt loam base soil often has hidden low spots that are not visible until you begin spreading and the surface levels out.
Complete Your Outdoor Soil Project
After your soil is graded and settled, a bulk mulch delivery helps protect that fresh surface from La Crosse's heavy spring rains and keeps weed pressure down while new plants establish through the growing season. Adding a stone border or pathway alongside your soil project defines the space clearly and keeps foot traffic off newly worked beds before plants have time to fill in.
What type of soil should I use to fix the low spots in my La Crosse yard?
A quality bulk topsoil or topsoil and compost blend works well for leveling low spots throughout La Crosse. Native silt loam in this area compacts and settles over time, especially in areas with heavy foot traffic or repeated freeze-thaw cycles. Fill low spots with 2 to 3 inches of bulk topsoil, tamp it lightly, and overseed in late spring after your last frost around May 15 for the best germination results.
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My La Crosse yard has silt loam that gets soggy every spring. Will adding topsoil help?
Adding topsoil alone will not fix chronic drainage problems, but grading with bulk soil can make a significant difference if the real issue is improper slope across your yard. La Crosse's silt loam is notorious for holding water after snowmelt and the heavy rains of April and May. Building up low areas with fresh topsoil to create positive drainage away from your home and toward yard edges is often the most effective and affordable first step you can take.
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How much soil do I need to build a raised garden bed in La Crosse?
For a standard 4 by 8 foot raised bed with 12 inches of depth, you need roughly 0.15 cubic yards of soil. Most La Crosse gardeners build raised beds specifically to escape the compacted silt loam below and give plants a loose, nutrient-rich zone to grow through the full growing season. Ordering slightly more than your calculation suggests lets you top off the bed the following spring after the soil has had a season to settle.
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When is the best time to add bulk soil to a La Crosse lawn?
Late spring, after May 15, is the ideal window for top-dressing lawns in La Crosse. The soil is workable, the ground is no longer frozen or oversaturated from snowmelt, and you have the full growing season ahead for grass seed to establish before October's first frost. Avoid working soil during the peak soggy period in April, when silt loam is most vulnerable to compaction from foot traffic and equipment.
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Can I use bulk topsoil to repair bare patches in my La Crosse lawn?
Absolutely, and it is one of the most effective repairs you can make. A light layer of quality topsoil, about a quarter to a half inch deep, spread over bare areas before overseeding gives grass seed the loose contact zone it needs to germinate quickly. La Crosse's silt loam surface forms a crust between rain events that makes it hard for seed to make good soil contact, and a thin topsoil topdress breaks that barrier and dramatically improves germination rates.
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Will imported topsoil mix well with my existing La Crosse silt loam?
Yes, especially if you loosen the existing silt loam before adding new material. Till or fork the top 4 to 6 inches of your native soil before spreading bulk topsoil so the two layers blend at the interface rather than sitting as separate distinct bands. This blended transition zone is important in La Crosse because abrupt texture changes between soil layers can create a perched water table that keeps roots wetter longer than ideal after a heavy rain.
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How do I keep my freshly delivered soil from washing away during La Crosse's spring storms?
Seed, mulch, or cover freshly placed soil as quickly as possible, ideally within a day or two of your delivery. La Crosse receives a significant portion of its 35 annual inches of rain in April, May, and June, when newly graded areas are most vulnerable to erosion and surface runoff. A light straw cover over seeded areas, or a mulch layer over new planting beds, holds soil in place while plants get established enough to protect the surface on their own.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
Before adding bulk soil to a new planting bed in La Crosse, loosen the existing silt loam to a depth of 6 to 8 inches with a tiller or garden fork. Silt loam compacts into dense layers that resist root penetration, and blending your new soil into the existing layer creates a continuous growing medium rather than a hard transition zone that traps water and stunts deep-rooted plants. This extra step takes an hour but makes a measurable difference in how well plants perform over the following seasons.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
La Crosse yards on flatter terrain near the river valley floor are especially prone to pooling after rain because silt loam drains slowly and has little natural slope. When adding bulk soil for grading, aim to slope the ground away from your home's foundation at roughly 1 inch per foot for the first 6 feet. This simple grade correction, combined with a quality topsoil layer, can eliminate standing water problems that have developed over years of freeze-thaw settlement.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
The window between La Crosse's last frost around May 15 and the first frost around October 5 gives you roughly five months of reliable growing time. Spread and settle your bulk soil deliveries early in that window so the ground has time to consolidate and support strong root development before fall arrives. Soil added too late in the season may not firm up adequately before the ground freezes, leading to frost heaving and uneven surfaces that need correction the following spring.
The Unique Landscape of La Crosse
La Crosse's native silt loam soil is nutrient-rich but problematic in practice, compacting quickly under foot traffic, heavy rainfall, and the repeated freeze-thaw cycles that run from October through late March. The city's Zone 5a climate subjects the ground to significant heaving and settling each winter, gradually degrading soil structure in exposed lawns and garden areas. With 35 inches of annual rainfall, low spots in La Crosse yards collect water and become anaerobic over time, stunting root development and killing grass in patches that grow larger every season. Imported bulk topsoil gives homeowners the ability to correct grade problems, build raised beds above the compaction layer, and establish lawns and gardens on a fresh, workable foundation. Whether you are filling in erosion channels along a bluff-side property or leveling a backyard that has settled unevenly over the years, quality bulk soil is the starting point for any lasting landscape improvement in La Crosse.
