Sandy Loam or Top Soil

[Dusty Britches]

Is there a difference?

[hosskix]

Sorta, sandy loam is a type of topsoil.
You could also have sand, loam, clay, etc as your topsoil.

[TX Aggie '06]

"sandy loam" refers to the soil texture in a given matrix with the word loam meaning "mixture".

Sand, silt and clay are all different soil particles (different sizes and makeups). The combination of said soil particles makes up soil texture.

Sandy loam = a mixture of soil types with sand being the predominate particle size.


Topsoil is whatever a manufacturers predetermined combination of soil types they sell is and it will 100% be some sort of loam, probably a slit loam or sandy silt loam.

[Dusty Britches]

Ok, thanks. So if I needed soil for the area around my house to plant native grasses, what should I get?

[dustoffer]

In my experience, sandy loam has less organic matter in it, and needs some composted manure or such mixed in it--

[TyWebb]

"sandy loam" refers to the soil texture in a given matrix with the word loam meaning "mixture".

Sand, silt and clay are all different soil particles (different sizes and makeups). The combination of said soil particles makes up soil texture.

Sandy loam = a mixture of soil types with sand being the predominate particle size.


Topsoil is whatever a manufacturers predetermined combination of soil types they sell is and it will 100% be some sort of loam, probably a slit loam or sandy silt loam.

Spot on.

[TX Aggie '06]

Ok, thanks. So if I needed soil for the area around my house to plant native grasses, what should I get?

Depending on what you are planting/how you are planting it you may not need anything.

What are you wanting to do, broadcast seed, put in sod, spot treatment?

I don't think a manufactured "topsoil" mixture is ever going to be a "bad" thing but may not need to burn the cash on it depending on your application.

[True Texan]

Both are better than black gumbo.

[hosskix]

Personally, I love a good sandy loam top soil.
Drains a heck of a lot better than clays, but not as quick as sand.
Put the right fertilizers in it and you can grow anything under the sun.