Our method
For many garden and property owners it is just as important as a lush garden itself: the lawn. In summer, it often suffers from the heat and dryness, and a snow-free but cold winter can also harm it. But construction work and garden parties can also take their toll on it.
Sometimes, however, it just doesn't seem to grow without any obvious external influences. In all cases, lawn soil can be useful to promote lawn growth or to improve the lawn. In our large lawn soil test 2021 we have put various types of lawn soil under the microscope and present our results here.
Contents
- 1 Weekly newsletter with the best personal finance tips
- 2 The most important facts
- 3 The best lawn soil: Our picks
- 4 Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying lawn soil
- 4.1 What is lawn soil?
- 4.2 What is the optimal composition of a lawn soil?
- 4.3 As a gardener, what do I need the lawn soil for?
- 4.4 What properties should a good lawn soil have?
- 4.5 Which lawn soil is suitable for me?
- 4.6 How much does lawn soil cost?
- 4.7 Can I mix my own lawn soil?
- 4.8 How should I use the lawn soil?
- 5 Purchase criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate lawn soils
The most important facts
- Lawn soil refers to a substrate industrially produced for the amateur gardener and plant lover, with which the lawn grows faster and healthier. This is applied to the topsoil and serves as a better base for the lawn with various nutrients.
- The reason for using a lawn soil when seeding lawns is that it offers many advantages that are very rarely found in natural topsoil. These include, above all, a loose soil, water permeability and balanced nutrients such as compost, humus and fertilisers.
- An optimal composition of lawn soil has not yet been clearly defined, but experts already have a general consensus: a good lawn soil should consist of at least 50% compost, about 35% humus and 15% sand. Depending on the properties of your topsoil, you can then choose the best product.
The best lawn soil: Our picks
Guide: Questions you should ask yourself before buying lawn soil
What is lawn soil?
Even if you reseed your lawn, you usually need this substrate. Whether you want to have a play lawn or an ornamental lawn, lawn soil is indispensable.
What is the optimal composition of a lawn soil?
In addition, the pH value should be between 5.5 and 6.0. These rules can be used as a benchmark and you can use the optimal mixture according to your lawn and soil types.
As a gardener, what do I need the lawn soil for?
You can use lawn soil optimally in combination with lawn fertiliser.
What properties should a good lawn soil have?
The general rule is that if a lawn soil has
- Can withstand stress
- Is permeable to water
- Has a stable structure
- Has a balanced composition
then it is a good lawn soil.
Which lawn soil is suitable for me?
If you are not sure what kind of topsoil you have, you can also have a soil analysis done by experts. The most commonly used buying criteria are shown in the following section.
How much does lawn soil cost?
| Price segment | Price |
|---|---|
| Lower | 0,18€/litre~0,36€/litre |
| Middle | 0,35€/litre~0,70€/litre |
| Higher | 0,43€/litre~1,32€/litre |
Can I mix my own lawn soil?
How should I use the lawn soil?
- Loosen the soil
- Apply a thin layer (0.5~1.5 cm thick) of lawn soil evenly and evenly on the ground
- To roll the lawn soil
- Add the lawn seed
- To roll and water the plot again
When spreading the soil, you should always pay attention to any unevenness in the soil!
And after the new installation, of course, you must not forget to water, cut and, if necessary, fertilise your lawn regularly.
Purchase criteria: These are the factors you can use to compare and evaluate lawn soils
In the following, we will show you which criteria you can use to compare and evaluate lawn soils. This will make it easier for you to get an overview and decide on a suitable and effective device.
In summary, these are the following criteria:
- Type of topsoil
- Type of lawn
- Application goal
- Ingredients as well as nutrients
- Peat-free
Type of topsoil
This point mainly determines the sand content of your lawn soil: e.g. with a compacted loamy topsoil you need a lawn soil with a higher sand content to loosen the soil and thus avoid waterlogging.
And if your soil is rich in lime, silicon-rich rock flour is a good idea. Conversely, lime-rich rock meals are a better choice for soils that are low in lime and acidic.
Lawn type
Lawns are not always the same, there are mainly 3 types of lawn: Shade Lawn, Play and Sports Lawn and Ornamental Lawn. Different types have different requirements for the soil, for example, the play lawn needs to be extra hard-wearing, while the ornamental lawn should grow finer, shorter and denser.
Application target
Whether you want to use the lawn soil for new planting, reseeding, regeneration or repair also plays a role in your selection.
Ingredients and nutrients
Lawns need certain nutrients to thrive and look more beautiful, so the ingredients of a lawn soil are of course crucial. When buying a product, these properties should be given preference:
- With suitable and sufficient nutrients
- With raw materials that are good for aeration and root development
- With a pH value between 5.5 and 6.5
- With natural ingredients such as microorganisms
Peat-free
It is also better if a lawn soil is peat-free. While peat soil is good for some types of lawn, it damages the soil because it acidifies the soil and you then have to add extra nutrients to deacidify the soil again.
In addition, the water can hardly be stored. The worst thing, however, is the overexploitation of peat soil, which destroys the habitat of many animal and plant species.
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