Soils, Compost & Amendments
What’s the Difference?
A guide to soils, compost & mulches.
The terms can get a bit confusing, so here is a simple reference guide:
Soil
Soil is the foundation of the garden — the base. It is comprised primarily of sand, silt and clay particles as well as various trace minerals. There are many types of soil blends that are created for different applications.
Compost
Compost is decomposed organic matter (leaves, small tree limbs, food waste, manure) which when added to the soil improves it’s fertility and supports beneficial microbes, insects, fungi and bacteria in the soil.
Mulch
Mulch is similar to compost but usually contains decomposed tree and shrub material. Many gardeners place mulch on top of the soil to keep moisture in, keep weeds from growing, and protect the plant’s root system. It breaks down over time and feeds the soil too.
Available Varieties
Garden mix soil makes a great base for raised beds. Potting soil is usually a soilless sterile mixture of raw materials (coir, peat, vermiculite, perlite, etc.) used for starting seeds, and container plantings. Good potting soil should be porous for root aeration and drainage while retaining water and nutrients.
- Life Below All-Purpose Mix 1 cu ft.
- The Ground Up My Veggie & Herb 1 cu ft.
- The Ground Up My Bohemian Potting Mix 1 cu ft.
- Fox Farm Ocean Forest 12 qt
- Fox Farm Ocean Forest 1.5 cu ft
- Fox Farm Ocean Forest 3 cu ft
- Landscaper’s Pride Potting Soil 40 lb.
- Landscaper’s Pride Top Soil 40 lb.
Quantities may vary. Please call the nursery at 713-861-5702 to confirm product availability.
- Nature’s Way Leaf Mold Compost 40 lb.
- Nature’s Way Fungal Compost 40 lb.
- The Ground Up Compost DS 1 cu ft.
- Farm Dirt Plant Based Compost 40 lb.
- Acid Cotton Burr Compost 2 cu ft.
- Happy Frog Soil Conditioner 1.5 cu ft.
- Landscaper’s Pride Compost Peat 40 lb.
- Landscaper’s Pride Black Humus 1.5 cu ft.
Quantities may vary. Please call the nursery at 713-861-5702 to confirm product availability.
- The Ground Up Native Hardwood 2 cu ft.
- Native Texas Cedar Mulch 2 cu ft.
- Nature’s Way Native Double Ground 2 cu ft.
- Pine Straw Bales 2 cu ft.
- Quick Straw Pine Straw Bales 2.4 cu ft.
- Landscaper’s Pride Pine Bark Mulch 2 cu ft.
- Landscaper’s Pride Black Velvet Mulch 2 cu ft.
Quantities may vary. Please call the nursery at 713-861-5702 to confirm product availabilities.
- Nature’s Guide Expanded Shale 40 lb.
- Soil Mender Lava Sand 40 lb.
- MicroLife 6-2-4 40 lb.
- Soil Mender Texas Greensand 40 lb.
- Landscaper’s Pride Sand 40 lb.
Quantities may vary. Please call the nursery at 713-861-5702 to confirm product availabilities.
- Pea Gravel 1/2 cu ft.
- Palmetto St. Augustine Sod 16 x 24 (seasonal item)
- Black Star Gravel 5 gal (1/2 cu ft.)
Quantities may vary. Please call the nursery at 713-861-5702 to confirm product availabilities.
Buchanan’s Picks
Buchanan’s All-Purpose Soil
Locally made by us!
To make gardening a little easier we have formulated our very own, organic Buchanan’s All-Purpose Soil Blend! This mixture is meant for containers or hanging baskets, raised garden or veggie beds, and in-ground plantings. Our mix is comprised of mostly compost, coco-coir, expanded shale, and bio-char. All the ingredients included are perfect for turning our dense, clay soil into a loamy, well-draining soil.
TGU Native Hardwood
Native mulch for Houston winters.
Protect your garden without losing beauty! TGU Native Hardwood Mulch is our pick for a mulch that is both aesthetically pleasing and durable. Composted vegetative waste, shredded once and composted then shredded a second time with a 1.5″ screen. Small shred with composted fines that will ultimately incorporate into the soil system of your landscape.
Nature’s Way Leaf Mold Compost
Shop local!
Keep your compost local by using Nature’s Way Leaf Mold Compost. It is screened “fine” at 3/8 of an inch, and is perfect for top dressing your lawn. This is the gold standard of products for compost top dressing.
Organic Mechanics
Gardeners, we’ve got an exciting new brand in the plant care shed!
Introducing Organic Mechanics! This company successfully produces high-quality potting soil and soil amendments that are earth-friendly and cost-effective.
Make 2022 the year you make natural, sustainable gardening your goal! Click through the tabs below to see products we’re excited about.
Use as a perlite substitute, fungus gnat deterrent, and weed control!
- Perlite Substitute: Mix into soil to lighten a blend and increase porosity, air space, and drainage. Use 10% less Rice Hulls than you would with perlite!
- Fungus Gnat Deterrent: Make your plants a place they don’t want to go! Add 0.5″-0.75″ to the top of your soil as a mulch.
- Weed Control: Stop weeds from growing by adding 1.5″-2.0″ to the top of your soil as a mulch.
- Grown, Harvested, and Packaged in the USA!
- 100% Organic
The perfect 100% organic potting soil for starting all types of seeds.
- Use for vegetables, herbs, annuals, and perennials
- Formulated for optimal seed germination, providing 3-4 weeks of fertilization power
- Water less! Holds moisture, yet drains well for healthy root growth
- Use in seedling flats, small fiber pots, or any container for planting seeds
- Contains: coconut coir, pine bark, rice hulls, worm castings, and an OMRI-listed organic fertilizer
Grow BIG plants and INCREASE your yields!
- Contains a measured dose of fertilizer (4-2-2), mycorrhizae, biochar, azomite, and micronized oyster shell (5% Calcium and 1% Sulphur too!)
- No mixing and measuring, just add at planting time, right beside or underneath the root ball. Nothing could be easier. Fuhgeddaboudit!
- For all types of plants, from annuals to perennials to woody plants
- 100% Organic
Useful Resources
Soil & Mulch Calculator
Use this tool to determine how much material you need for your project!
Fall Bed Prep Video
Get those beds prepped for winter!
Composting 101
Looking to start composting? Let us help with the basics!
