Lawn & Planting

Choosing the Right Lawn & Planting Materials for Your Garden

Whether you're laying a new lawn, preparing flower beds or refreshing your garden borders, choosing the right soil and planting materials is essential for healthy growth. At County Building Supplies, we supply lawn and landscaping products for professional landscapers, gardeners and DIY customers, including Melcourt topsoil, peat-free compost, ornamental bark and turf rolls.

Topsoil vs Compost: What's the Difference?

Topsoil and compost are both used in gardening and landscaping, but they serve different purposes.

• Topsoil: Used for creating planting beds, preparing lawn areas and improving ground levels. County stocks Melcourt Blended Loam Topsoil in 0.6m³ bulk bags, suitable for larger garden and landscaping projects.
• Compost: Used to support plant growth by providing organic matter and improving growing conditions. County stocks Melcourt AP Peat-Free Compost in 40L bags for suitable planting and gardening applications.

For new lawns, a suitable topsoil provides a growing layer for turf establishment, while compost can be used for planting applications according to the product's intended use.

Preparing the Ground for New Turf

Good ground preparation is important when laying a new lawn. Remove weeds, stones and debris before levelling and firming the soil to create an even surface. Where necessary, add suitable topsoil to improve the growing layer.

County supplies turf rolls measuring approximately 40cm x 250cm, providing around 1m² of coverage per roll.

Lay turf promptly after delivery, stagger the joints and ensure good contact with the prepared soil. Water thoroughly after installation and continue watering as required while the roots establish.

Using Ornamental Bark in Garden Borders

Ornamental bark is a popular choice for finishing flower beds, borders and landscaped areas. County stocks Melcourt Spruce Ornamental Bark in 60L bags.

Applying a suitable layer of bark mulch can help retain soil moisture, moderate soil temperature and suppress some weed growth. Keep bark clear of plant stems and tree trunks to avoid trapping excess moisture against them.

How Much Topsoil, Turf or Bark Do You Need?

Start by measuring the length and width of your garden area to calculate the total square metres.

• Turf: Divide the area by the stated coverage per roll. County's turf rolls cover approximately 1m² each, so a 20m² lawn would require around 20 rolls before allowing for cutting waste.
• Topsoil: Multiply the area in square metres by the required depth in metres. For example, 10m² at a depth of 100mm requires approximately 1m³ of topsoil.
• Ornamental bark: Calculate the area and intended mulch depth, then compare the volume required with the bag size.

Always allow for uneven ground, settlement and any additional material required for your project.

Need Advice?

Not sure how much turf, topsoil, compost or ornamental bark you need? Visit your local County Building Supplies branch or contact our team for advice on choosing suitable materials, calculating quantities and checking availability.