Could I Mix Garden Top Soil With Compost Manure Vermiculite To Grow Perenials In A Large Pot?

Question

hi i have bought some bags of topsoil thinking i could grow perennials in the soil but read that you can’t, so could you recommend a way of using it mixed with the right things please. I also want to put some bulbs in the pots. I have soil compost potting and grit.

Answer 1

I have found that topsoil is not created equally. I purchased a cheaper bag of topsoil and mixed it with sphagnum peat moss and manure for a perennial bed and it is rock hard. I can barely dig in it. I looked up the product on its website and found it was only suitable for lawn use. So, if you purchased the cheaper bags (like $2 a bag), I would not use it for ornamentals. If you bought the more expensive garden soil, you could probably lighten that enough to use it in a container.

Container soil needs to be very well draining. I would use very little of the topsoil and add lots of compost, and perlite to aerate the soil. I would also add some bagged potting mix if you have it.