Can I Use Garden Soil Instead Of Potting Soil? The Unexpected Answer! (2021)

Can Garden Soil Be Used In Pots?

Garden soil can be used in pots, but only if it is chemical-free and healthy. It will not be suitable if that soil contains too much clay or sand. Water will build in the soil if there is too much clay, and it will not drain properly. Furthermore, too much sand will cause the soil to dry out faster, depriving the plant of adequate moisture. To keep enough moisture while draining excess, you’ll need loose soil. You’ll need to supplement the garden soil or use potting soil if it doesn’t have this texture.


The Fact Is

Weed seeds may be present in the garden soil and will sprout in your potted plants. These weeds will remove nutrients from the soil that your plants are supposed to use. As a result, as the weeds start to sprout, you’ll have to pull them out. The potting soil is sterile, so there won’t be any weed seeds in it. Another issue with garden soil is that it contains a lot of pollutants. This might be the result of a lawn that had previously been sprayed with fertilizer and insecticides. Chemicals leak into the soil and remain there for years. The toxins will leach into your potted plants if you use such garden soil. If you’re growing veggies and fruits in pots, this is very harmful.


How Do You Turn Garden Soil Into Potting Soil?

You’ll get a report with the necessary additions to make your garden soil appropriate after you’ve done a soil test. If the soil contains chemicals, I would recommend using potting soil for the plants instead of garden dirt. Otherwise, you can follow the report’s recommendations and add the required resources. Then you should be able to fill your pots with garden soil. Adding organic matter to the garden soil over time is the simplest way to improve it. This helps to alter the texture of the soil, making it more conducive to plant growth.


What The Soil Should Avoid?

You may detect if the soil is of poor quality by its color and compactness. When you dig in the soil, the number of worms you find is another indicator of good garden soil. Worms are a foolproof technique to see if your soil is in good shape. If you dig down a little and don’t see many worms, your soil is of poor quality. For your pot plants, it’s best to use a potting mix. Too sandy soil is another type of soil that might be detrimental to certain plant species. You may have overly sandy soil if you live near the seashore or sand dunes. Simply looking at your soil will tell you if it is too sandy. It is not beneficial for most popular plant species if there appears to be too much sand. Cacti and other similar plants thrive on the sand.


Can We Mix Potting Soil?

You can use a combination of potting soil and garden soil in an intermediate method. To utilize for the plants, the garden soil must still be of good quality. The amount you’ll need to combine is determined by the garden soil’s quality. You can mix more of it if it’s nice, but you should mix less of it if it’s not.


Final Words

Whether you use garden soil or potting soil, the technique for planting in pots is the same. Before adding the dirt and the plant, make sure the pot is clean. 1 part bleach to 10 parts water can be used to sanitize the pot. Allow an hour for the pot to soak in the mixture. After that, thoroughly clean the pot with water. Allow the pot to dry completely before using it.


Related Articles For You

https://allthingsgardener.com/diatomaceous-earth-to-kill-aphids/
https://allthingsgardener.com/causes-of-root-rot-in-snake-plant/
https://allthingsgardener.com/snake-plants-survive-direct-sunlight-2021/

Was this helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!