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Topsoil recommendations north east England

kayleigh_mcardlekayleigh_mcardle Posts: 4
edited April 2021 in Fruit & veg
Hello!

I am a novice gardener based near Newcastle. I recently built some raised beds, and am looking to fill them with the Joe Lamp'l 'perfect soil recipe' https://joegardener.com/podcast/raised-bed-gardening-pt-2/ (as I couldn't afford all the components of Mel's Mix in the quantities required). I have bought the compost I need, and made an organic mix of manure, worm castings and multi-purpose compost combined. However, I am really struggling to find topsoil! I ordered some from a local company but when it arrived it was full of small twigs and sticks (they told me this was from the compost that had been mixed in, but their website said nothing about this). I don't really know what it is I'm looking for to be honest... I don't want to make an expensive mistake - I've read some horror stories in online reviews. My local garden centre has recommended a different local company but if anyone up here can help, I'd really appreciate it. Many of the suggested companies on the forum are based down south. 

Thank you :-)

Posts

  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    I've bought topsoil, manure and composted bark from CPA Horticulture and been pleased with everything they have delivered.
    I used a mix of their topsoil and manure for my raised beds.
    I used 25 ton of topsoil and 15,000 litres (that's how they sell it) farmyard manure/mushroom compost - good as it is, I should have used less topsoil and more manure.
    They deliver nationwide
    https://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Always seem to be following Pete.8 in recommending the same company.
    The other option is to find a local supplier and go and see what their bags are like. 
  • kayleigh_mcardlekayleigh_mcardle Posts: 4
    Well I ordered some topsoil from CPA Horticulture and I’m really disappointed... it contains large stones, large twigs, and pieces of rubber/ plastic. Is this normal? It seems to have a very high sand content too... I ordered their premium topsoil and it’s supposed to be screened to 8-10mm and tested and all sorts. But with this much debris in it I’m not feeling very assured that it is. What was your topsoil like? Do you have any photos?
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    edited April 2021
    If you are unhappy with your soil I hope you have you contacted them and sent your photos?

    They do 3 types that mention Premium which one was it?
    If it states Sandy Loam that's what you get, soil that's sandy rather than clay or chalk.

    No top soil is going to free from twigs,  that is classed as organic matter, and you will get stones but on the whole that looks pretty good.
    Is the last photo of the stone size As I wouldn't say they are large and they do help with drainage.



  • kayleigh_mcardlekayleigh_mcardle Posts: 4
    I have, yes. Just waiting for them to phone me back. Does it look bad then? I’m not sure what I’m looking for so would be grateful for others’ opinions! Thank you 
  • kayleigh_mcardlekayleigh_mcardle Posts: 4
    This is the one I ordered https://www.cpa-horticulture.co.uk/topsoil/gp-topsoil 

    So far customer service has been very helpful and are offering to send me a bag of planting loam for free. They have agreed that what I have received is not as it should be!
  • K67K67 Posts: 2,506
    Well it does say high sand content and low stone content but I wouldn't want the bits of rubber and plastic but they do appear in most bags of topsoil you buy anywhere.
    It's not top quality more general purpose as described.

    Glad they have responded as good  after sales customer service is so important.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340

    I had the British Sugar Landscape 20mm  - 20 ton - just enough to bury the neighbours :) I did get another 5 ton just to be sure


    It was also quite sandy but the consistency was almost like flour with not even a bit a grit to be found.
    It's the recovered silt from washing sugar beet
    I was very pleased with it - that was in 2016

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • JennyJJennyJ Posts: 10,576
    Off topic but I used to pass one of British Sugar's factories quite regularly and during the harvesting and processing season I would often be driving behind a load of mucky sugar beet on it's way in. Glad to see they make good use of the dirt!!
    I believe some topsoil is what's stripped off land where building is going to happen so if they don't screen it well you'll get whatever was there - stones, litter, roots and all. The sample in the first pic looks a lot like my (sandy) garden soil but without the pebbles!
    Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Soil type: sandy, well-drained
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