Does Topsoil Have Weed Seeds Inside It?

Topsoil is supposed to enrich your lawn and garden, not create problems. So, why does it seem like some topsoils encourage weeds to grow and take over the grass? A fresh layer of topsoil creates the perfect growing environment for most plants, including weeds.

Topsoil has weed seeds in it because all soil has small seeds from various plants. Using herbicides and other chemicals to purify the topsoil would neutralize the healthy microorganisms and other plant seeds in the soil. You can prevent the weeds from growing by using a natural weed remover.

In this post, you’ll find out why your topsoil has weed seeds in it, how you can get rid of the weeds in the soil, and why there are so many weeds growing out of your fresh layer of topsoil.

Why Does Topsoil Have Weed Seeds In It?

Topsoil has weed seeds because the soil has seeds and additives from the region that it was pulled from. For example, if your topsoil has dandelion seeds, it was likely gathered from a place that had a lot of dandelions. It’s impossible to get topsoil without plant seeds in it.

Michigan State University claims all topsoil has seeds in it. They also state that the companies can’t remove the seeds because the removal methods would hard the healthy microorganisms in the topsoil. You’d end up with a pile of dirt without nutrients, which doesn’t help your lawn or garden at all.

Here’s what you should know about topsoil with seeds in it:

• Some topsoils have a lot more weed seeds in them, especially if they were sourced and bagged during the spring and summer.
• You can mix topsoil with sand to prevent the weed seeds from growing and filter most of them out with a spreader.
• Weed seeds have a much harder time sprouting if the soil is covered with mulch, grass, and densely-packed plants.
• You’ll almost always have to remove a few weeds from a new batch of topsoil once they sprout through the soil.

Much like sand in topsoil, it’s highly unlikely that you’ll be able to completely remove the seeds from the soil. However, you can eliminate the weeds once they grow and prevent them from coming back. In the following section, I’ll explain how you can get as close as possible to making weed-free topsoil.

How Do You Make Weed-Free Topsoil?

To make weed-free topsoil, make a mixture of compost and soil from your lawn. Add mulch on top of the topsoil, then plant grass throughout the lawn. Weed seeds sprout in bare soil, so cover as much of the topsoil with grass and other plants as possible.

Prevent the topsoil’s weed seeds from growing with these tips:

• Mulch the plants in your yard, including leaves and grass. Old World Garden Farms suggests mulching your plants since you know they won’t add weed seeds to the topsoil. Furthermore, it’ll add countless nutrients to the soil and encourage healthy grass growth.
• Spray the weeds before cutting the lawn because it allows the herbicide to reach the roots. While it’s best to prevent the weeds from growing, new topsoil often introduces weeds into the lawn. Spray the weeds, wait for a couple of days, spray them again, then remove them by hand. You can mow the grass when the weeds are removed.
• Make your topsoil when there aren’t any weeds in the dirt. Weeds spread tons of seeds, even if you can’t see them. Using the dirt beneath the weeds to make topsoil will inevitably lead to hundreds of weed seeds in your new batch of soil.
• Monitor the topsoil’s pH. Weeds grow in various pH ranges. You can find out which weeds are native to the area, then adjust the lawn’s pH to accommodate the grass instead of the weeds. Your topsoil’s pH can make or break the weeds, bacteria, and grass.

I recommend the Sonkir Soil pH Meter. It tests the pH, water retention, and light in the topsoil. You can adjust the pH with more topsoil, lime, and other additives. Stick the meter into the soil, wait for a few minutes, and check the readings to maintain the topsoil.

Adding too many weed seeds to the topsoil can make it stink. Weeds often grow with bacteria and fungi, especially if the soil is drenched and crowded from the plants. Remove the weeds as quickly as possible and create an environment that discourages them to grow back.

Why Are There Weeds in the Topsoil?

There are weeds in the topsoil because all topsoil has weed seeds. Any soil made at home or by a manufacturing plant will have seeds from various plants. These seeds are too hard to remove by hand. You can plant grass, hedges, and other plants to prevent weeds from growing.

However, some mistakes can lead to far too many weeds in the topsoil. Let’s over them below, and include preventative measures to keep them at bay.

• Don’t add too much topsoil to the lawn or it’ll get covered in weeds. Since all topsoil has weed seeds, adding loads of topsoil will eventually grow a bunch of weeds.
• Never let the soil get bare. Bare soil encourages weeds to grow, so covering the bare soil with mulch, grass, and other plants prevents the weed seeds from germinating and growing.
• Don’t mow the weeds; spray them and remove them by hand. Mowing the weeds will spread the seeds all over the topsoil, leading to way too many weeds.
• Maintaining a healthy lawn and garden is the best way to keep the weed seeds from filling the lawn. Your lawn’s pH, water retention, grass coverage, and nutrient density will encourage the lawn to remain healthy and vibrant. More lawn space means fewer weeds.

Contrary to what many so-called experts will preach, weeds are an inevitable part of maintaining a lawn and garden. You might only encounter a couple of them, but your topsoil will definitely add seeds to the soil. Use the suggestions and preventative measures you’ve learned to prevent the weeds from becoming an issue.