The website was intuitive and easy to navigate. The material was delivered the date and time it was scheduled, it was dropped off in the area i had specified on top of my tarp with no issues.
I ordered soil, the Gardening Blend that I received had too many plastic and m...
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How Much Material Do I Need?
Plan 4 to 6 inches for lawn areas, 8 to 12 inches for planting beds, and full depth for raised boxes. One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches or 50 square feet at 6 inches.
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.
The website was intuitive and easy to navigate. The material was delivered the date and time it was scheduled, it was dropped off in the area i had specified on top of my tarp with no issues.
I ordered soil, the Gardening Blend that I received had too many plastic and m...
How Much Material Do I Need?
Plan 4 to 6 inches for lawn areas, 8 to 12 inches for planting beds, and full depth for raised boxes. One cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches or 50 square feet at 6 inches.
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.
The website was intuitive and easy to navigate. The material was delivered the date and time it was scheduled, it was dropped off in the area i had...
Read full review
The website was intuitive and easy to navigate. The material was delivered the date and time it was scheduled, it was dropped off in the area i had specified on top of my tarp with no issues.
I ordered soil, the Gardening Blend that I received had too many plastic and metal pieces for my liking thus lowering the score from a perfect 5/5 to a 4/5
Really appreciate the care and follow thru that this company had with our order. A hiccup came up but they were quick to respond and address all co...
Read full review
Really appreciate the care and follow thru that this company had with our order. A hiccup came up but they were quick to respond and address all concerns, which made our garden day a success! Thank you for your prompt care.
Measure the length and width of the area in feet and decide the finished depth, remembering that soil settles about ten to fifteen percent after the first few waterings. Multiply length by width by depth in feet, then divide by 27 for cubic yards. For raised beds, use inside dimensions rather than outside frame measurements or you will over order.
Complete Your Outdoor Soil Project
Add compost to boost organic matter in the top layer, and finish planted areas with 3 inches of mulch so your new soil does not crust over in the valley sun. Steel edging keeps imported soil from washing into the lawn during spring runoff.
Why is the soil in my new West Jordan subdivision so hard to dig?
Builders across the southwest valley typically strip the topsoil, then run heavy equipment over the remaining lakebed clay for months. What you are digging is compacted subsoil with almost no organic matter, and it can be nearly as dense as a driveway base. The fix is mechanical loosening down 6 to 8 inches followed by 3 to 4 inches of compost or topsoil blend tilled in, not just a thin layer spread on top.
Answer
How much topsoil do I need before laying sod in West Jordan?
Aim for 4 to 6 inches of quality soil over loosened native ground. Anything less and your turf roots hit clay in the first hot week of June and stall out, which is exactly why so many valley lawns brown in patches by mid summer. Four inches over 1,000 square feet is about 12.5 cubic yards, so measure carefully before ordering.
Answer
Should I amend my alkaline clay or just replace it?
For lawns and large beds, amend. Blanket replacement is expensive and creates a bathtub effect where water perches at the boundary between imported soil and clay. Work 3 to 4 inches of compost into the top 8 inches so the transition is gradual. For raised vegetable beds, importing a full garden blend makes sense because you are building above the clay rather than fighting it.
Answer
When can I start working soil in the spring here?
Usually early to mid April, but only when the clay is no longer wet. Squeeze a handful, and if it ribbons out or holds a slick ball, walk away for a week. Tilling West Jordan clay while it is wet destroys structure and creates concrete hard clods that last all season. With a last frost around April 25, you have plenty of time to prep beds in the two weeks prior.
Answer
Does the soil around West Jordan really need sulfur?
Often yes. Valley soils commonly test in the 7.6 to 8.2 pH range and carry free lime, so elemental sulfur can help nudge the root zone down over time. Be realistic though, because our soils are heavily buffered and you will not swing the pH of an entire yard. Sulfur combined with steady compost additions gives the best practical improvement, especially in beds with roses, maples, and raspberries.
Answer
What soil should I use for raised vegetable beds in Zone 7a?
A garden blend of screened topsoil and compost, roughly 60 to 70 percent soil and 30 to 40 percent compost, performs best here. It holds moisture through the dry July stretch without going soggy, and the organic matter keeps our alkaline conditions from locking up iron in tomatoes and peppers. Fill beds about an inch high because the blend settles two to three inches in the first season.
Answer
Can imported soil help with the drainage problems in my backyard?
It can, but grading matters more. Adding soil on top of clay without a slope just moves the puddle. Establish at least a two percent fall away from the house first, then bring in soil and compost to build a deeper root zone. In West Jordan yards with persistent spring wet spots from snowmelt and clay, raised beds and berms are usually more effective than trying to make the native ground drain.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
Do not create a bathtub. If you dig a hole in West Jordan clay, fill it with fluffy imported soil, and plant a tree in it, water will collect in that pocket and rot the roots. Instead, widen the planting hole two to three times the root ball, keep the depth the same, and blend imported soil with the native clay you removed. The gradual transition lets roots move out into the surrounding soil.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
Test before you truck anything in. A basic soil test from the Utah State extension lab costs very little and will tell you your pH, salinity, and phosphorus. West Jordan yards on the old lakebed occasionally show elevated salts, and adding the wrong compost can make that worse. Knowing your numbers keeps you from spending hundreds on amendments your soil does not need and points you at the ones it does.
Mulch Mound Pro Tip
Water new soil in stages. Freshly delivered blends are fluffy and full of air pockets, so a single deep soak causes uneven settling and low spots that show up after you have already planted. Spread the soil, water lightly, wait a day, rake out the dips, and repeat. In our dry air the surface dries fast, so check moisture two inches down rather than judging by the crust on top.
The Unique Landscape of West Jordan
Most West Jordan yards were built on Salt Lake Valley lakebed clay, and on newer subdivisions the topsoil that was there originally got scraped and sold before the foundation went in. What is left is a dense, alkaline subsoil with almost no organic matter, often compacted by construction equipment to the point that a shovel bounces off it. Bringing in quality topsoil and compost blends is how West Jordan homeowners build a root zone that will actually hold water in a 17 inch rainfall climate. Good imported soil raises beds slightly above the native clay, which matters here because water sits on clay in spring and drowns roots right when plants are breaking dormancy. Blended soil also carries the organic matter that buffers our high pH and helps plants pull iron out of an otherwise stingy medium. Whether you are filling raised beds for a Zone 7a vegetable garden or leveling a lawn area before sod, the soil you start with determines how much you will water for the next decade.
