In the hands of a beginner, actual "peat" can produce results ranging from
"hmmm...." to "disaster". By "beginner", I'm referring to the
ever-increasing legions of people who don't seem to know what a library is,
and how to plan far enough ahead to have time to read a book or two, or
(heaven forbid) locate a real garden center run by grizzled old people who
actually know what they're talking about.

"Cereus-validus....." wrote in message
m...
Here we go again.

"Top soil" is ANYTHING that makes up the surface layer of the soil and
does not have any specific chemical or biological composition. It can be
good for growing plants or it could be toxic. Buying "top soil" is buying
a "pig in a poke". You may not only be wasting your money but you can
actually be doing damage to your garden by using it.

If you instead buy "humus", "loam" or "peat", you know exactly what you
are getting and how to use it.


"Janet Baraclough" wrote in message
...
The message ghY%d.22081$oa6.14080@trnddc07
from "Travis" contains these words:

The name "top soil" has no meaning.

It's a well-known term throughout Europe, meaning the fertile layer
above subsoil. When people here buy/sell a lorry-load of soil for
horticultural use, it's normal to specify topsoil.

Janet.