How Often Should Youd Change Your Soil?

Written By Carli Holas

There’s soil everywhere--it’s the minerals, liquids, and organic matter that makes up the top of the ground. Every lawn has soil, but to make it easier for plant life to grow, you can buy soil made for your lawn. Unlike mulch, which needs to be replaced after a certain period of time, you don’t remove old soil unless it has a disease. The soil itself will break down, so when you replace your soil, you only have to pour the new soil over the old--a much easier process than mulch.

Soils you can buy for your yard can be heavy in minerals to help plants grow at a healthy rate. Artificial soils can work to give your yard as much water and nutrients as possible, whereas soil mix works to help a plant grow in a controlled pot environment.

But like mulch, soil needs to be replaced on a consistent basis. Whether it’s soil for your lawn or a potted plant, it loses its effectiveness over time. So anyone who aims to take care of their lawn or plants needs to know how often they should change their soil.

WHEN SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR SOIL?

When you change your soil depends on whether it’s soil for a potted plant or your lawn. With your potted plant, you should change it every 12 to 18 months or when you need to change the pot. You should only change a pot if you believe the soil has a disease or if the plant has outgrown it. And remember, do not move soil from one pot to the next.

For your lawn, there are times of the year and signs you can look for to tell when it’s time to change the soil. These can also apply to potted plants but rarely appear before a regular interim of 12 to 18 months.

  • Early fall or spring, before the temperature changes
  • The grass is actively growing
  • The grass is uneven in length
  • Your lawn has holes or brown patches
  • If your lawn wasn’t laid correctly

You want to make sure that it’s the right time to change your soil because if it’s too early, you can kill part of, or even all of, your grass.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN NATURAL, ARTIFICIAL, AND MIXED SOILS?

Earlier, we mentioned the three different types of soil. They each are made of different materials, for different needs, but they all work to help maintain your lawn.

  • Natural soil - A mixture of natural materials like sand, silt, clay, and humus. Humus is the organic decomposed matter that adds nutrients, while the natural rocks control plant growth from growing too fast or out of control.
  • Artificial soil - Technically not made out of soil, but peat, perlite, and vermiculite in addition to nutrients. It uses man-made materials to control plant growth in your lawn, which can lead to the soil having longer-lasting effects.
  • Soil mixes - A combination of artificial and natural soils, it uses peat, composted bark, sand, perlite, and nutrient-rich substances, like mushroom compost. It uses a combination of elements larger than soil particles to keep a lawn or pot from compacting.

As all should note, while fill dirt can seem similar to soil, it is not. It is used to fill holes, depressions, and contours in your lawn. It has its own separate use.

SOILS YOU CAN FIND AT PIONEER LANDSCAPING CENTERS

Your local Pioneer Landscaping Center carries a range of soils you can choose from for your lawn or potted plant. We offer natural soils, artificial soils, and soil mixes that our representatives can show you to help you find what works best for your yard. Some soils include:

  • Premium Gardener’s Mix
  • Premium Southern Colorado Soil Mix
  • Command Compost
  • A-Topsoil
  • B-Topsoil
  • And more…

Contact your local Pioneer Landscaping Center for more information from one of our representatives. We’ll help you find the best soil for your lawn.

Carli Holas