Last Updated: 22 September 2025
As topsoil is diverse in nature, it can be used for a variety of jobs for both domestic gardens and larger-scale trade projects. Topsoil is mainly used to cover empty patches, create new raised beds and borders, levelling and laying lawns. It’s used across the garden for different jobs thanks to its flexibility as well as being nutrient and mineral-rich.
Topsoil is widely used across the UK for both domestic and commercial use. If you’re a beginner to the gardening world, then topsoil is going to be a word and product you’ll soon be familiar with. With different types of topsoil found in different parts of the world, its use and benefits can differ from soil to soil.
What is topsoil?
Topsoil is the upper layer of soil that contains most of the ground’s nutrients and fertility. Commonly confused with compost, the primary reason for the difference is that topsoil is a more well-rounded soil option because of both the structure and nutrients it offers for plants and turf. Topsoil is usually screened to a much finer size compared to compost – Alsoils+ Premium Topsoil is screened to 10mm.
The 6 types of topsoil are:
- Chalky
- Clay
- Peaty
- Loamy
- Sandy
- Silty
If you want to find out more about the different types of topsoil, we’ve created an in-depth guide so you know what soil you may be dealing with and how to approach it.
Another frequently asked question is ‘can I use topsoil for indoor potting plants’ and the answer to that is unfortunately not. As garden soils are different to indoor soils, this could impact how plants grow and their overall health.
The Many Uses of Topsoil
Topsoil is one of the most versatile materials in gardening and landscaping. It can be used to create new garden beds, level uneven ground, prepare areas for turfing, and fill raised beds or allotments. Because it is nutrient-rich and easy to work with, topsoil is also a popular choice for improving borders, repairing patches in lawns, and acting as a base layer for landscaping projects.
How Topsoil Improves Existing Soil
Adding topsoil is a simple way to enhance poor or tired ground. It improves soil structure, balances texture, and increases fertility by adding organic matter. When spread over compacted or sandy areas, topsoil boosts drainage and water retention, creating a healthier environment for plant roots. It can also help dilute heavy clay soils, making them easier to cultivate.
Topsoil for gardens
Topsoil is commonly bought for creating new gardens beds or adding that extra bit of much-needed nutrients to existing plants. Typically you will need to spread a 2 to 4-inch layer of topsoil to flower beds and other general gardening jobs to ensure the best results.
Supporting Healthy Lawns
A layer of quality topsoil is essential for establishing and maintaining lawns. It provides an even surface for laying turf, encourages deep root growth, and supplies the nutrients needed for strong, green grass. Topdressing with topsoil can also repair bare patches, improve drainage, and help lawns recover from heavy use or extreme weather.
Using Topsoil for levelling lawns
If you’ve already got a lawn but it’s uneven, levelling a lawn can be an easy job to carry out if you know how to do it. Or perhaps you want to add a bit of greenery to your garden and you’re thinking of laying some new turf. High-quality topsoil for lawn turf and newly added grass seeds is a must as it provides good drainage, high amounts of nutrients and minerals – a brilliant way to keep your garden lawn healthy.
Supporting Vegetables and Flowers
Vegetables and flowers grow best in soil that is rich in nutrients and easy to work with. Topsoil mixed with compost or manure provides the ideal conditions, delivering the organic matter plants need to thrive. In vegetable gardens, it encourages strong yields and healthier crops, while in flower beds it supports vibrant blooms and long-lasting displays.
As there are different types of vegetables (root, cruciferous, allium etc), they require different levels of topsoil. Root vegetables will require between 3-4cm of topsoil, whereas other types of vegetables that grow on top of the ground will require between 1-2cm of topsoil.
Other Common Uses of Topsoil
Beyond gardens, topsoil has many wider applications. It can be used for landscaping large outdoor spaces, restoring areas after construction, or creating safe surfaces for play areas and recreational grounds. It is also valuable for erosion control on slopes, improving biodiversity in wildlife areas, and filling planters or containers where a fertile growing medium is required.
Topsoil for drainage
Another highly valuable property of topsoil is that it is known for creating effective drainage under grass. Having topsoil that is screened to approximately 10mm gives the best results for those looking on improving the quality of drainage in gardens, golf courses and sports pitches.
If you’re unsure of how much topsoil you need for gardens, lawns, drainage and allotments, we’ve created the ultimate guide and calculator for how much topsoil you need.
