Landscape & Garden Soils
At American Soil & Stone, we take great pride in producing the highest quality soils. We have over 40 years of experience blending our soil and 40-plus years of listening to our customers. This has given us the knowledge to provide some of the best soils and soil amendments that you will find in the Bay Area. We produce a variety of soils and soil amendments, each formulated and optimized for a specific use. For example, American Soil & Stone makes a very nutrient-rich, open-structured soil for vegetable gardens, a moderately acidic, high organic matter soil for woodland-style gardens, and an open-structured, granular, fast-draining soil for cactus, succulents, and similar plants. The list goes on. We have over ten different soils to choose from. We also produce custom-blended soils for projects with special requirements, such as rooftop gardens or unique plantings at botanical gardens. We have the knowledge and ability to handle almost any project.
How We Mix Our Soils
Our soils are blends of many different materials, such as composts, organic fertilizers, mineral components, bark, soil, etc. The method of blending is critical in determining how the soil will perform. A uniformly mixed soil is essential for consistent plant growth. To this end, American Soil & Stone has invested in the best mixing equipment to ensure that all ingredients are uniformly blended during the production of our soils and amendments. We use an electric batch mixer capable of evenly combining as little as one pound or less of an ingredient into a cubic yard of soil. The result is that our soils are consistently uniform within a batch and between batches. There are no fertilizer hot spots or dead spots to cause problems. Growth will be uniform and predictable. It is almost impossible to achieve this level of uniformity when using a front-end loader, which is the standard practice in our industry.
Committed to Quality
Quality isn’t just our goal—it’s our standard. We conduct ongoing growth tests to ensure our soil meets our high standards. Unlike single-point laboratory analyses, growth tests track real-world soil performance over time, reflecting how your plants will respond as they grow and mature. This continuous evaluation ensures every bag or load of soil you purchase will produce the performance you should expect.
When you choose soil from American Soil & Stone, you’re investing in proven quality, expert craftsmanship, and the best possible start for your garden.
General Landscape
General Landscape is an excellent all-purpose soil blend ideal for most landscape plants, including trees, shrubs, annuals, and perennials. Its sandy loam base creates a loose, friable texture that’s easy to work under most weather conditions while providing excellent drainage. Most of the nutrients in General Landscape come from composted plant materials, supplying the fertility needed for vibrant growth, lush green foliage, and overall plant health.
Now Enhanced with Biochar
We are now adding biochar to General Landscape’s formulation. Our growth tests have shown that biochar significantly increases water retention and plant growth over General Landscape without biochar. Considerable scientific literature indicates that biochar greatly enhances beneficial microbial activity in the soil and contributes to long-term healthy soil structure and stability. Biochar helps plants thrive by maintaining optimal moisture levels and enriching the soil’s natural ecosystem.
Blending with Existing Soils
General Landscape will blend seamlessly with your existing soils, including those high in clay, improving their texture and nutrient availability. For best results, mix General Landscape with your existing soil to create a six-inch transition zone. Simply break up the surface of your current soil with a spading fork or shovel, then apply General Landscape on top.
Recommended Application Depth
We recommend applying General Landscape no deeper than 12 to 16 inches. Deeper layers can reduce oxygen availability due to natural biological activity in rich, compost-based soils. Additionally, most plant feeder roots typically grow within this soil depth, making deeper applications unnecessary.
Fertilization Guidelines
General Landscape is formulated with optimal fertility for its intended uses. As with all our nutrient-rich soils, adding additional fertilizer or compost immediately after application may cause issues. We suggest waiting at least four months before considering fertilization.
Plant Compatibility Notes
Please note: General Landscape is suitable for most landscape plants; however, it is not recommended for proteas or related species that require low phosphorus levels. Additionally, plants such as blueberries, which require highly acidic soils, may also experience difficulties growing in this blend.
Local Hero – Veggie Garden Soil
Local Hero is our highly popular premium vegetable garden soil. With a high nutrient content explicitly formulated for the production of leafy vegetables, root crops, and tomatoes, it will provide even a first-time gardener with an abundant harvest of fresh, tasty vegetables. A sandy loam base combined with a rich, well-aged compost fortified with an organic fertilizer combination of feather meal, bone meal, and phosphate rock provides a long-lasting, slow release of nutrients that will last the growing season. A highly friable soil with excellent drainage and resistance to compaction makes it a joy to work with.
Now Enhanced with Biochar
Local Hero now includes biochar, significantly improving water retention, fostering beneficial microbial activity, and enhancing long-term soil structure and stability. Our growth tests using biochar have demonstrated healthier plants and greater yields, consistent with results for biochar reported in scientific literature. Adding biochar helps maintain optimal moisture levels and supports a vibrant soil ecosystem, which is necessary for optimal plant growth.
Ideal for Raised Beds
Local Hero is particularly well-suited for raised garden beds. If your raised bed is placed directly over existing soil, we recommend creating a six-inch or greater transition zone between the two soil types. This will allow roots and water to pass easily from Local Hero to the native soil. This can be achieved by loosening the existing soil with a spading fork or shovel, leaving small clumps roughly the size of golf balls, and mixing the two soils. Transition zones like this should always be done when one soil is layered over another. As a side note, be careful not to place fine-grain (higher clay content) soil over a more open soil (lower clay content). This may hinder the flow of water into the subsoil and lead to a perched water table.
Recommended Soil Depth for Raised Beds
The optimal or minimal soil depth for a raised bed garden depends on the type of plant to be grown, particularly its root system. Shallow-rooted plants, such as lettuces, can sometimes be grown in as little as eight inches of soil. However, this minimal soil depth requires more frequent watering and fertilization. This will not be a problem if the raised bed is built over existing soil unless the soil is exceedingly poor. Ideally, a mixed vegetable garden is best served with an 18-inch layer if it is built over a non-pervious structure like a concrete slab. If built over soil, 8 to 16 inches will work very well. If you use 2 x 6-inch lumber for the sides of the bed, remember they are only 5 ¾ inches high. Using the two or three high will be an excellent range.
One more important thing to remember is that soil will pack down and settle. You should order at least 10% to 15% more to accommodate this compaction.
Fertilization Guidelines
Local Hero is already at optimal fertility; adding additional fertilizer is unnecessary and may harm your plants. You should not need to fertilize for a growing season, but if you feel the need to, do not until at least one month after planting.
The New Turf Blend
Turf Blend is formulated for lawns and ground-cover areas that will encounter foot traffic. The blend has a higher sand content than our other soils, allowing water to easily move into the soil with minimal runoff and conserving water. The higher sand content also helps reduce soil compaction from foot traffic, especially under wet conditions. Soil compaction can severely impact lawn health, leading to patchy or barren areas that struggle to absorb water efficiently. That is precisely why sandy soils for golf course construction are preferred.
Biochar
Biochar is now a component of Turf Blend. It is highly beneficial for increasing the water-holding capacity of sandy soils and will increase the interval between waterings. It also aids in enhancing the beneficial microbial activity in the soil. It could lead to some suppression of root pathogens. Biochar also aids in keeping plant nutrients from leaching from the root zone.
Here’s a refined version of your content for the website. It’s clear, professional, and avoids being overly technical or too casual:
**How to Use Turf Blend**
Before applying Turf Blend, remove any grass, weeds, old roots, or vegetation from the area. Using a spading fork or rototiller, loosen the existing soil to a depth of at least 4 inches. Then, mix some Turf Blend into this loosened layer. This creates a transition zone that helps the grass roots move smoothly from the Turf Blend into the underlying soil.
If the subsoil is compacted, consider extending the transition layer beyond four inches to support better root growth. For larger areas where full soil preparation isn’t possible, use a rake to scarify the surface; this will still improve root penetration.
After the transition layer is made, lightly water the area. This helps settle the mix, revealing any uneven areas, and allows you to shape the surface for proper drainage. Once shaped, add the final layer of Turf Blend to a depth of at least 3.5 inches.
Grass root depth depends on the type: cool-season grasses typically grow to a depth of 6–12 inches, while warm-season grasses can reach depths of 12–24 inches. Roots will grow into the subsoil in both cases, so a well-prepared transition layer is essential. Turf Blend helps prevent compaction, while the subsoil supports long-term water retention.
Once your lawn is established, focus on slow, deep watering to encourage strong, deep roots.
How to Use Turf Blend
Remove all grass, weeds, old roots, and other vegetation from the area when applying Turf Blend over existing soil. Thoroughly loosen the soil with a spading fork or rototiller to a depth of at least 4 inches. Mix some Turf Blend into this layer to fill the gaps and create a transition zone that will aid the roots in moving from the Turf Blend layer into the subsoil. If the subsoil is highly compacted, making the transition layer greater than 4 inches may be necessary. If the area is large and you do not have the equipment to prepare the soil, at least try to scarify the surface with a rake to aid root penetration. Spread the final top layer of Turf Blend to at least a 4 inch thicknes.
The depth of grass roots depends on the type of grass, but as a general rule, cool-season grass roots typically grow to a depth of 6 to 12 inches, while warm-season grass roots extend to a depth of 12 to 24 inches. It is clear that both types of grass will penetrate the subsoil, making the transition layer crucial. The Turf Blend will serve as a cushion to prevent subsoil compaction, while the subsoil will assist with water retention. After establishing the new lawn, slow but deep irrigation will be necessary.
After preparing the transition layer, it may be valuable to water the area. This will help settle the soil so you can see any low spots and also shape the soil contour to direct drainage.
f the subsoil is highly compacted, breaking up transition layer to an even greater depth may be necessary. Keep soil clumps no larger than a golf ball to provide ample spacing for Turf Blend to mix with the subsoil. This will help roots to make the transition into the old soil. roots to penetrate easily into the subsoil. Avoid breaking the soil into overly fine particles, as this sometimes prevents the formation of an effective transition zone. Maintaining a 4-6 inch transition zone for large turf areas might not be practical; however, lightly scarifying the surface is still beneficial to aid the roots in moving into the subsoil.
Mix some Turf Blend into this layer to fill the gaps and create a transition zone that will aid the roots moving from Turf Blend into the subsoil. If the subsoil is highly compacted, making the transition layer greater than 6 inches may be necessary. If the area is large and you do not have the equipment to prepare the soil, at least try to scarify the surface with a rake to aid root penetration.
Basic Blend
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Cactus & Succulent Mix
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Ultra-Bedding
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged. It was popularised in the 1960s with the release of Letraset sheets containing Lorem Ipsum passages, and more recently with desktop publishing software like Aldus PageMaker including versions of Lorem Ipsum.
Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book.
Woodland Blend
Woodland Mix is formulated for plants that thrive in moderately acidic, high-organic soils with natural, low-to-moderate fertility. It’s ideal for rhododendrons, blueberries, true geraniums, ferns, foxgloves, and many other plants native to the forested regions of the California coast and beyond.
While perfect for woodland species, Woodland Mix also supports good growth in many common garden plants that don’t require high nutrient levels. It’s an excellent choice for informal gardens featuring small trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants that grow and change naturally through the seasons.
Please note: Woodland Mix is not a high-nutrient soil and is not designed for rapid plant growth. Its fertility resembles that of natural woodland soils. If you desire faster growth, we recommend raking in an organic fertilizer at the time of planting.
For many native plants, mixing Woodland Mix at a 50/50 ratio with your existing garden soil creates the ideal balance of structure, drainage, and fertility.
How to Use Woodland Mix
Woodland Mix can be used as a stand-alone planting soil or blended with existing soil at any ratio. Because Woodland Mix consists primarily of organic material with minimal mineral content, mixing it with native soil adds necessary weight and density to securely anchor larger shrubs and small trees, helping them establish strong root systems and resist shifting over time.
When planting small trees and shrubs, we suggest mixing Woodland Mix at about 1 part Woodland Mix to 2 parts soil. If layering Woodland Mix over existing soil, create a transition zone by blending the two together to a depth of 4 to 8 inches. This makes it easier for the root to grow into the subsoil.