Creating a lush, healthy lawn starts with proper preparation, and one crucial step is measuring for topsoil. Accurately determining the amount of topsoil needed ensures adequate coverage, good grading and promotes optimal growth for your new lawn. A common question we get is how to measure and how much topsoil do I need. In this blog post, we will guide you through the process of measuring for topsoil to help you achieve a beautiful, thriving lawn.
Starting
As you begin, you need to measure your square footage. Easiest shapes being squares and rectangles. If you have a difficult yard to measure, try and break it down into smaller portions to be able to measure effectively. If you want to hire us to come out and measure, we have some special equipment that can measure very accurately. We prefer you measure your yard but want to make sure that everyone is taken care of.
Once you have your total square footage, we make this super easy for you. 3–4 inches is the standard that people use. While it’s great to put down 6 inches, especially in Utah soil, most yards would require you to excavate dirt out in order to get enough room. 1–2 inches is recommended for replacing current lawns if your lawn died, and you are reinstalling. Click this link to find how how many cubic yards of topsoil you need.
Another way to measure that occasionally works is using a website called measuremylawn.com. It takes satellite footage of your yard and then allows you to draw lines where you are putting soil and calculate the square footage. The biggest issue with this method is a lot of the places that need topsoil are new builds and are not on the maps yet. While technology is great, a lot of the time the best way is to get out and just measure. Large tape measures or a measuring stick make measuring easy.
If you have some areas that need to come up in a corner or something, make sure to add a little bit on top. While topsoil is not super complicated, it can be a lot of work. We recommend using machinery to move the dirt into place and then rake the dirt by hand for the final grade. If you are looking to hire out the labor, we offer that. Feel free to reach out for a bid.
Sum Up
Measuring for topsoil is a vital step in preparing for a new lawn. By accurately assessing the area, determining the depth, calculating the area and volume, and accounting for any irregularities, you can ensure that you have the right amount of topsoil for optimal growth and a thriving, beautiful lawn. Take the time to measure properly, and you’ll set the foundation for a successful lawn installation. Now you know how to measure for topsoil.
*Pro Tip*
Ordering in full trucks is always the biggest bang for your buck. Make sure you get enough dirt for your lawn, but maximizing your dollar is always important. Contact us, and we can make sure you are getting the biggest bang for your buck.
