Using Fill Dirt and Landscaping to Build a Perfect Garden

Raised garden beds. Eroded areas of the yard. A new landscaping project. There are lots of reasons to change an outdoor landscape, but if you’re wondering where can I get fill dirt, you’re not alone. Many gardeners have great ideas for their landscaping areas, but sometimes don’t know where to go to make those ideas reality.

Using Fill Dirt

Fill dirt does exactly what it sounds like: fills in holes. But fill dirt can also be used to create raised garden beds and other landscaping features. Fill dirt is needed when planting new plants and trees.

Landscaping is an important aspect of any home’s overall appearance and value. Landscaping can increase the overall value of a home by as much as 14%.

Where Can I Get Fill Dirt?

When you’re wondering where can I get fill dirt, you want to check all your options before you purchase a commercial mix.

If you want to save some money, go to local construction sites or speak with local farmers. Often, these workers are willing to give dirt away for free because they won’t be using the dirt again. Search the classified ads for people giving dirt away for free before you buy.

Types of Fill Dirt

Fill dirt is usually comprised of a many types of soil. It will often contain small rocks in addition to topsoil. Rocky fill dirt is not the same as landscaping rocks, which are an attractive and practical addition to the garden. Placing a one-inch layer of landscaping rocks in garden areas is a highly effective way to prevent weed growth.

Potting soil and fill dirt are also not the same. Potting soil is soil that’s made with nutrients specifically designed to nourish plants and promote strong growth.

Landscape Options

Fill dirt alone isn’t enough to keep garden areas healthy. You’ll also want to add a little topsoil to your garden beds and landscaped areas. It’s also common to top off garden beds with landscape mulch to prevent weed growth and keep soil moist. Soil without mulch dries out more quickly, which means your garden and landscaped areas will require more frequent watering.

Make your outdoor areas more low-maintenance with mulch or an alternative, such as crushed concrete. This is considered a “green” landscaping material because it’s recycled. Crushed concrete is a good way to provide drainage in potted plants and raised garden beds, and it can be used to build retaining walls, terraces, paths and other garden features.

Instead of mulch, used crushed shells. This gives garden areas a unique, eye-catching look, and they function just as well as mulch.

Explore your landscape options, and create the outdoor areas you’ve always wanted to have. When you use the right materials, you build a garden that looks beautiful with a lot less work.