Best Soil For Your Lawn: Which One Should You Buy?
Publushed by:
RebeccaLast updated:
January 14, 2022
WINNER
Scotts EZ Seed
High performance
All-in-one
Includes a tackifier
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RUNNER UP
Scotts Premium
Suits all grass types
Affordable
General-purpose
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BEST BUY
Scotts Turf Builder
1,200 sq ft coverage
Best for northern lawns
Premium product
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Contrary to popular belief, grass doesn’t grow easily on its own, and to achieve a truly luscious lawn you need to give it a bit of a boost.
Along with fertilizers and weed killers, using the best lawn soil is a smart way to achieve the lawn of your dreams and a must-have for any gardener.
How do you choose good grass soil? The best soil for your grass depends on the type of grass you’re growing, the pH level of the soil, and what works for your climate and lawn landscape.
There’s a lot to consider before selecting a grass soil and knowing which products are worth investing in can make the process easier.
The importance of having the right dirt for grass growth is often overlooked but with our help, you’ll be able to easily find soil that changes the look of your lawn completely.
Check out our recommendations for the top-rated soils on the market today and what it is they do that can make your yard spectacular.
Our Recommendations for the Best Grass Growing Soil
If you’ve been wondering what is the best soil for the grass or thinking that your lawn is in need of a makeover, there are some great options out there that can help.
Whether you need to patch, repair, or rejuvenate your lawn, our favorite finds for soils that can get the job done are all you need to consider.
Best Overall: Scotts EZ Seed
Short summary
Scott’s has developed a soil mix that does it all, including fertilizing, mulching, and seeding. The 10lbs bag covers 225 square feet of soil for patching and repairing, as well as growing new grass.
Scott’s has created a soil that’s thought of everything, with a mulch, seed, and fertilizer all combined in one easy package.
This all-in-one approach is designed to work on all stages of growth from seedlings to mature grass, so you don’t have to second guess where and how you’re going to use it.
On the downside, the EZSeed Mix is expensive and when you consider how much coverage you get from a 10lbs bag, it might not be the most cost-effective for larger areas.
The results are what make the price worthwhile though, with people repairing patchy parts and renewing their lawn completely after applying this product from Scott’s.
The addition of mulch into this formula means the seeds get a moist protective layer around them and a tackifier that prevents them from being washed away, and both of these aid in giving you the best grass growth possible.
If you’re looking for the ideal soil to repair and rejuvenate your lawn and don’t mind spending extra, Scott’s EZSeed Mix is our favorite find in this category.
Quick Facts
- Ingredients: Mulch, Fertilizer
- Organic: No
- Grass type: All
- Season: All
- Area: 225 sq ft
Pros
- Easy to apply
- Great for patchy areas
- High performance
- Includes a tackifier
Cons
- Expensive
- More effort
Runner-Up: Scotts Premium
Short summary
Scott’s Premium Topsoil is a general-purpose soil designed for leveling, patching, and filling in the soil of your existing grass landscape, whilst adding a conditioning treatment to it as well.
The 25lbs bag of soil is equivalent to .75 cubic feet which should be enough for most small to medium-sized lawns, and it suits all grass types and stages of growth as well.
With organic matter and sphagnum peat moss as the key ingredients, you’ll have visibly softer and healthier grass and soil in just a few weeks.
If you want a one-stop shop for a product that suits your existing soil structure, Scott’s Premium Topsoil is the best approach.
This affordable alternative for topsoil works on all kinds of grass can be applied in every season and works with new seedlings as well as mature grass.
Although advertised as having organic matter, be mindful that this isn’t solely organic, so for gardeners that only shop for these products, you should be aware.
This is the best soil for leveling your grass and covering large areas, and the .75 cubic feet of soil should be enough for most yards, even though there’s no official word from Scott’s on how much coverage it gets.
You’ll find a good amount of organic matter as well as sphagnum peat moss within, so it conditions the existing grass and adds a lot of nutrients to the soil underneath.
However, there were some reports of people finding items like small wood chips and other debris in their soil and others having to break up hardened lumps, so avoid this topsoil if you want something purer and less chunky.
However, if you need good general-purpose soil that suits just about any type of grass or landscape, you can’t go wrong with Scott’s Premium Topsoil.
Quick Facts
- Ingredients: Sphagnum peat moss, organic matter
- Organic: No
- Grass type: All
- Season: All
- Area: N/A
Pros
- Affordable
- Multipurpose
- Easy to apply
- Enough coverage
Cons
- Not solely organic
- Break up before applying
Alternative: Scotts Turf Builder
Short summary
Thick’r Lawn Turf Builder is another product from Scott’s designed to improve the health of your lawn with a fertilizer, seed, and soil improver all included.
Scott’s guarantees a 50% thicker last just a few weeks after using this, and it can fill gaps or be applied to your entire lawn for results.
The 12lb bag covers around 1,200 square feet of lawn and it features seeds of red fescue, bluegrass, and perennial rye grass.
If your lawn is in need of just soil repair, the Scott’s Turf Build Thick’r Lawn can help you transform it completely.
Rather than just featuring soil improver, this formula also contains a fertilizer and grass seeds, including bluegrass and red fescue, to help you bring your lawn back to life.
This soil is best suited to northern lawns but works on all grass types and stages of growth as well.
There are some caveats when using this soil, including the fact you need a lawn spreader to do it, and will have pretty regular maintenance in the first few weeks to help the seeds grow.
From there, the results will be almost instantaneous though and Scott’s stands behind the quality of this soil with their customer guarantee that it’ll make your lawn thicker or you get your money back.
Unlike other soils, this also improves the health of the roots underneath, so although you’re paying a premium price, you’re getting a premium product.
With all of these capabilities in one, you also save some time from seeding and applying fertilizers as well, so the higher cost makes it worthwhile.
For lawns that are in need of some serious TLC and deep conditioning, there’s none better than Scott’s Turf Builder Thick’r Lawn.
Quick Facts
- Ingredients: Red fescue, bluegrass, perennial rye grass seeds, fertilizer, soil improver
- Organic: No
- Grass type: Northern lawns
- Season: All
- Area: 1.200 sq ft
Pros
- Best for new grass
- All-in-one
- Time-saver
- Refund guarantee
Cons
- Applied using a spreader
- Expensive
Alternative: Coast of Maine
Short summary
Coast of Maine’s Organic Topsoil is a 100% OMRI-listed organic soil for your grass, with all natural ingredients of the Mohegan Blend including sphagnum peat moss, composted manure, and aged bark.
The 30lbs bag comes with a cubic foot of soil to cover your grass and it works for leveling, planting, repairing acidic soil, and coating the lawn, as well as acting as a soil conditioner in gardens and yards.
If you only want the finest organic goods in your garden, opting for something natural like the Coast of Maine’s Organic Topsoil Mohegan Blend will be your best bet.
This soil is certified organic and listed with OMRI so you can be sure of its purity and features some of the most nutrient-rich ingredients like aged bark, composted manure, and sphagnum peat moss.
As expected for organic soil, Mohegan Blend is an expensive option, and unless you’re fully committed to the organic approach there are other cheaper and more effective options.
However, for those wanting the peace of mind that organic gardening supplies bring, Coast of Maine has it, and it gives you something that’s not just good for the grass but also anything else growing in your garden.
The cubic foot of soil that comes in this bag should be sufficient for smaller yards to fill in the gaps but you might want to go bigger if you have more ground to cover.
Although it features compost, the earthy odor of this soil is pleasant, and your existing soil will thank you for the top-up of goodness it provides. ,
Coast of Maine’s Mohegan Blend has managed to create an organic and deeply conditioning soil for use at home, and if you take pride in your garden, they’re one of the best options.
Quick Facts
- Ingredients: Composted manure, aged bark, Sphagnum peat moss
- Organic: Yes
- Grass type: All
- Season: All
- Area: 2.500 sq ft
Pros
- Enough coverage
- Truly organic
- Pleasant smell
- Effective
- Nutrient products
Cons
- Expensive
- No seeds included
Alternative: Scotts Lawn Soil
Short summary
The Lawn Soil Turf Builder from Scott’s is a fertilizer and soil starter in one, designed for lawns that need repairing or have been overseeded.
The 30lbs bag features one cubic foot of soil to cover 2,500 square feet of grass and it suits all stages of growth and all types of grass.
With an added fertilizer it conditions the soil as well and can be purchased in two-pack for 60lbs of soil.
Scott’s Turf Builder Lawn Soil is another popular choice from their grass soil range, designed to be both a fertilizer and replenish the soil underneath.
Lawn Soil comes in a 30lbs bag that will cover an average-sized lawn, and because of its affordable price, it works out to be one of the cheapest options we’ve reviewed.
There are no seeds included in this mixture so it’s more about improving the health and conditioning the soil you already have, rather than facilitating new growth in patchy areas.
However, Scott’s promises that you’ll see 50% thicker grass with Lawn Soil, which customers agree with, and if you follow their instructions, it’ll only be a few weeks before you start to see noticeably healthier grass yourself.
Lawn Soil is an affordable and simple way to level your soil and add some rejuvenation to your grass, no matter the life stage or type of lawn you have. With the addition of fertilizer, it’s even better than standalone soil and it’s got the Scott’s guarantee that you’ll see results or they’ll refund your money.
Overall, this is the easiest way to treat your lawn soil without putting in too much effort.
Quick Facts
- Ingredients: Fertilizer
- Organic: No
- Grass type: All
- Season: All
- Area: 2.500 sq ft
Pros
- Enough coverage
- Versatile
- Essential nutrients
- 50% thicker grass
Cons
- Hard to break
- No seeds
Lawn Soil FAQ
Whether you’re after an organic matter or something with the right pH levels, there’s a lot that goes into choosing a new soil for your grass.
To make the search a little easier, we’ve answered a few commonly asked questions that can help you learn the basics about choosing a new soil.
Do You Need Special Soil For Grass?
Most soils sold are suitable for the lawn and growing grass, but you should check the directions of the product before proceeding as some might work against it.
For the best chance at healthy grass, choosing a soil formulated for this will yield the best results.
When Should You Apply Special Soil For Grass?
Soil formulated for the grass can be applied after the grass has started to grow, unless advised otherwise.
Applying topsoil onto the grass will pose less of a burden to it than it would grass that is still dormant underneath the soil, so it’s the safest and most effective approach for the lawn.
Could You Use Any Topsoil For Grass?
Most topsoil is suitable for use on grass, but if you’re unsure about applying one, it’s best to choose a product that specifically states its compatibility.
As long as the soil is high in the right nutrients that grass needs to grow and doesn’t feature anything like yellow sand, it should be fine to apply to your existing lawn.
How To Treat Lawn Soil?
If your existing lawn soil is in need of a boost, you could consider adding another layer of topsoil to it or just to the patchy areas.
Otherwise, you can cultivate the compacted soil that’s already there by breaking it up and mix through a grass-friendly fertilizer that can give it a boost of nutrients.
The Best Foundation For Your Lawn
A good lawn soil can make a world of difference to your yard, and in most cases, it’s as simple as dressing the top of the grass with the right product.
Using our recommendations for the best soils on the market, you’ll be able to choose one that perfectly fits your lawn’s requirements to improve the health of your soil in no time.
WINNER
