Get your new garden off to a great start with these top-rated organic soils & potting mixes…

Starting a garden comes with so many different decisions. What kind of garden will you grow? What types of plants will you choose? Will you start with seeds or seedlings? And what about garden soil? There are so many different types of soils and potting mixes available for purchase – how do you know which ones are the best?

If you’re growing in containers or raised beds, you’ll definitely want to start with a good organic soil mix. Organic soils are alive with organic matter and nutrients, creating ideal conditions for your plants to grow and thrive. If you are looking to grow a chemical-free garden, you’ll definitely want to stick with healthy organic soil.

There are some additional benefits to using organic soil, as well. The lack of chemicals means you aren’t contributing to toxic run-off, a massive source of pollution in the United States. Organic soils help your plants to grow stronger and healthier than non-organic soils because they contain a more balanced mix of nutrients for your plants. And organic soil tends to retain water longer, helping to cut down on garden maintenance.

There are a number of good brands of organic soils available online and in stores. Here are a few top brands to try:

1. Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil

Black Gold Natural & Organic Potting Soil is a versatile, go-anywhere soil. This competitively priced potting soil is a nutrient-dense mixture of loam, perlite, and pumice. Interestingly, Black Gold soil is regionally formulated, meaning it contains different organic materials depending on the growing zone where you live. Be sure to buy the appropriate type for your area.

2. Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix

The coconut coir contained in Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix helps this soil retain moisture longer, allowing you to water less often. Burpee Organic Premium Potting Mix also contains Burpee plant food, helping your plants to thrive for months without needing to add additional fertilizer. This potting mix is ideal for container gardens or raised gardens.

3. FoxFarm Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil

Designed for indoor gardening and container planting, FoxFarm Ocean Forest Organic Potting Soil is highly rated in the gardening community. Ocean Forest soil contains components from both the ocean and the forest, as the name suggests. This soil is a rich mixture of peat moss, sandy loam, bat guano, crab meal, and earthworm castings.

4. Nature’s Care Incredible Expanding Potting Soil

Nature’s Care Incredible Expanding Potting Soil triples in size after watering. Designed for container gardens, Incredible Expanding Potting Soil is extra lightweight, so you’ll save on shipping if ordering it online. It retains both water and oxygen better than traditional soil, allowing for a healthier root system for your plants.

5. Roots Organics ROD75 Growing Media

Roots Organics ROD75 Growing Media is coco-fiber-based and designed to give you the highest-yielding garden possible. Roots Organics potting soil consists of perlite and pumice, as well as earthworm castings, bat guano, soybean meal, humic acid, and glacial rock dust. This is another soil that is versatile enough to be used anywhere.

6. Nature’s Living Soil Organic Super Soil Concentrated Strength

Organic Super Soil by Nature’s Living Soil contains microorganisms that provide your plant with all the nutrients they need for strong and healthy growth. You’ll still need to water your plants, but you’ll no longer need to feed them. Because it’s concentrated, you will want to mix this soil with a basic potting mix when planting. Nature’s Living Soil Organic Super Soil is best suited for container gardening.

The Bottom Line

If you’re concerned about your health, chemicals in your food, GMOs, or the environment, organic gardening is definitely the way to go. Not only will going organic help to mitigate these issues, we firmly believe that organically grown food just tastes better! Finding the right soil is key to getting started off on the right foot with your organic garden, and you can’t go wrong with one of the top-rated organic soils listed above.