🌿 Miracle-Gro Garden Soil Calculator
Calculate exactly how many bags of Miracle-Gro garden soil you need for any bed, border, or raised garden.
| Depth | Sq Ft Covered | Sq M Covered | Cu Ft per Sq Ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 in (2.5 cm) | 324 sq ft | 30.1 m² | 0.083 |
| 2 in (5 cm) | 162 sq ft | 15.1 m² | 0.167 |
| 3 in (7.6 cm) | 108 sq ft | 10.0 m² | 0.250 |
| 4 in (10 cm) | 81 sq ft | 7.5 m² | 0.333 |
| 6 in (15 cm) | 54 sq ft | 5.0 m² | 0.500 |
| 8 in (20 cm) | 40.5 sq ft | 3.8 m² | 0.667 |
| 12 in (30 cm) | 27 sq ft | 2.5 m² | 1.000 |
| Bag Size | Volume per Bag | Bags per Cu Yd | Coverage at 3 in |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.75 cu ft | 0.028 cu yd | 36 bags | 3.0 sq ft |
| 1 cu ft | 0.037 cu yd | 27 bags | 4.0 sq ft |
| 1.5 cu ft | 0.056 cu yd | 18 bags | 6.0 sq ft |
| 2 cu ft | 0.074 cu yd | 13.5 bags | 8.0 sq ft |
| 3 cu ft | 0.111 cu yd | 9 bags | 12.0 sq ft |
| Project | Area | Cu Yds (3 in) | 2 cu ft Bags |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Raised Bed 4×4 | 16 sq ft | 0.15 | 2 bags |
| Standard Raised Bed 4×8 | 32 sq ft | 0.30 | 4 bags |
| Long Raised Bed 4×12 | 48 sq ft | 0.44 | 6 bags |
| Garden Plot 10×20 | 200 sq ft | 1.85 | 25 bags |
| Flower Border 3×15 | 45 sq ft | 0.42 | 6 bags |
| Large Bed 20×30 | 600 sq ft | 5.56 | 75 bags |
| Half Yard 25×40 | 1,000 sq ft | 9.26 | 125 bags |
| Full Yard 50×50 | 2,500 sq ft | 23.15 | 313 bags |
Garden Soil is different from both topsoil and potting mix. It usually relates to material that one uses for beds or raised beds. In it are elements that preserve humidity but also ease drainage.
Consider it almost in centre between topsoil and pot mix.
How to Make Garden Soil Better
Healthy garden Soil starts with a balanced mix of mineral grains, organic material and living creatures. Sand helps drainage in heavy clay ground. Silt preserves humidity without flooding roots.
Clay particles keep nutrients for longer times. Organic material, like compost, ties everything together. Loam probably is the best kind of garden Soil.
When the ground does not have loam various ground changes can bring it to loam quality over time.
Compost alone does not form a stable base for Soil. It gives nutrients to plants, but Soil with compost and other elements works much better for support and nutrition. Some products of garden Soil are a simple mix of compost and topsoil.
Others are more complex. One of the best mixes starts with compost, to that one adds local sandy loam, coconut fibers and pumice for help with airflow and humidity.
The ideal Soil for growing vegetables is rich in nutrients and has structure that reserves humidity without getting too dry. Set layers with ground or smashed bark that aged work well. Vegetables especially require strong Soil, because there shallow roots and fast growth quickly uses up nutrients.
Buy Soil in big amounts from a local landscape store costs much less than buying bagged products from big chain stores. Those local stores commonly have pre-mixed garden materials fit for the region, ready for loading in a van or delivery. Bagged Soil really only works for filling some jars or when one can not use a truck.
Add compost to packed Soil to help air, water and nutrients reach the plants. Dig and fork through the Soil to loosen it and remove weeds with trash. That is a good chance to mix in organic material.
Add finished compost in spring and dig in layers in fall each year to help keep the Soil healthy. Cover crops with mulch from anything available also are useful. Even wood chips work well.
Do not add sand to clay Soil. That is how people make bricks. Rather use compost, manure and a bit of peat moss.
Protecting topsoil with covers or cover plants is important. Rotate crops and avoid chemicals, except when absolutely needed, to help keep gardenSoil in good shape. Healthy garden Soil will have earthworms that move through it, and that shows that important processes work.
