In this article, we’ll break down how much it might cost you to improve your soil. There are a few factors to consider that will affect the price and they are worth understanding to have a better idea.
So, How Much Does Soil Improver Actually Cost?
As gardening experts and wholesale suppliers, we can tell you soil improvers will cost anywhere from as low as £10 to over £100 depending on how much you’re ordering and where you’re buying it from.
A small 10L bag of soil improver for your garden bed might cost £10 from the garden centre; whereas a 900L bulk bag might cost you £89.99.
How Much Soil Improver Do You Need?
The cost will significantly change depending on how much you need.
Garden centres might charge you £10 for 10L of soil improver, which is great if you don’t need a lot.
But if you do need a lot, you could spend hundreds without coming close to your required amount.
If you’re improving the soil of a large garden space, you’re much better off purchasing in bulk so you can be sure you have enough.
Buying in bulk
When buying in bulk, there are a few things to consider.
The main thing to consider is whether you want to pick it up yourself or have it delivered to a preferred location.
Assuming it’s the latter, you need to consider where it is being delivered from. Bulk soil improver weighs a lot and more likely than not will require a pallet courier service.
Most suppliers include a base delivery fee covering part of the cost of pallet courier shipping within the listed fee. If you find a deal that seems too good to be true, it more than likely hasn’t included the delivery fee meaning you will be in for a big shock when you reach the check-out point.
The price of large soil quantities depends on the type of soil amendment and how much you’re buying.
As a rough estimate, excluding varying delivery rates, you can expect to pay anywhere between £80 to £120 when ordering 900L of soil improver.
The Cost of Soil Amendments
There are many soil amendments out there, each best suited to different applications. The price will vary, however, it’s better to buy the one you need rather than the cheapest one.
Type of Soil Amendment | Est. Availability | Est. Price | Est. Price per Litre |
---|---|---|---|
Compost Soil Improver | 900L Bulk Bags | from £89.99 | £0.09 per litre |
Spent Mushroom Compost | 900L Bulk Bags | from £99.99 | £0.11 per litre |
Garden Mulch | 900L Bulk Bags | From £79.99 | £0.08 per litre |
Manure | 1000L Bulk Bags | Anywhere from £120-150 | £0.15 per litre |
Leaf | Homemade | Free | Free |
Soil Testing
A soil test helps to identify the pH level and current nutrient balance. Whilst it’s not required for most home gardens, it should be seen as a necessity for large areas – especially if you’re growing food for consumption.
These don’t cost too much money (anywhere from £15 up to £100) and will save you a lot of money in the future by avoiding the wrong amendments. You’ll also benefit from knowing any food you grow is safe to eat.
Long-term costs
Once you’ve improved your soil, it’s a good idea to think about your long-term costs.
One of the most important things to do is protect it from the damaging effects of freezing temperatures and soil compaction, which can make it difficult for water and roots to penetrate the soil, hindering plant growth.
Applying winter mulch is incredibly helpful in preventing these issues as it acts as a protective layer, shielding the soil from the harsh winter elements and helping to maintain stability.
Of course, the cost depends on how much you use, but you could expect to pay around £80 for a 900L bag of high-quality garden mulch.
Other factors to consider
There are some other factors that can influence your total cost, but these depend on varying garden sizes, estimated time and the existing quality of your soil.
- Size of Garden and required equipment: For larger areas, heavy machinery like tractors or tillers can significantly speed up the soil amendments. If you’re working with a smaller area, you’ll be fine using standard gardening tools.
- Labour Costs: If you plan to hire labour for soil improvement, you should consider the size of your land and the rates of landscaping or gardening services in your area. These can become increasingly expensive over time, so you should budget beforehand.
- Surprise Costs: If your soil is particularly challenging to work with (e.g., very dry clay soil), it might lead to unexpected costs and a longer timeline.