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 just contains decomposed tree and shrub material. It is placed on top of the soil to keep moisture in, weeds from growing and roots cool. 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
- 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 availabilities.
- 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.
- Happy Frog Soil Conditioner 3 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 availabilities.
- 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.
- 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.
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!
