Why Native Soil is the Secret Weapon Your Garden Needs
Spoiler: It’s not the bagged stuff that’ll make your trees thrive, it's what's already in the garden!
When you're planting a tree or shrub, it's tempting to pamper it with bagged topsoil, compost mixes, or triple mix from the garden centre. After all, it looks rich and healthy, right?
But here’s the thing: That rich, fluffy bagged soil can sometimes do more harm than good.
Let’s talk about native soil—why it matters, how it works, and how using it properly can lead to healthier, longer-living trees and plants in your Canadian garden.
What Is Native Soil?
Native soil is the soil that naturally exists on your property. It might be loamy, clay-heavy, sandy, or rocky—but it’s home base. And it’s what your trees need to adapt and thrive in the long term.
Why You Shouldn’t Use Bagged Soil to Backfill
When you dig a hole and fill it with store-bought soil, you're essentially creating a soft pocket surrounded by dense soil. It becomes a "sponge in a bowl"—a moisture trap that causes water to sit and stagnate around your plant’s roots.
This leads to:
Poor drainage
Root rot
Stunted growth
Roots circling the soft soil and never venturing outward
Environmental Adaptation: Trees don’t just need soil—they need the right kind of soil for your region. That’s what native soil offers.
So What Should You Do?
When planting:
Dig a hole twice as wide, but only as deep, as the root ball.
Backfill with the same soil you dug out. Break up clumps, but don’t add bagged mixes.
Water deeply after planting.
Top-dress with compost or mulch, but never mix it into the hole.
Mulch the area, leaving a small gap around the trunk or stem.
Bonus Tip: Compost Belongs on Top Compost is a great amendment—but it belongs on top of your native soil, not mixed into the planting hole. Let rain and worms work it in slowly over time, just like in nature.
Final Thought
Planting trees is one of the most powerful things you can do for your yard and the planet. But if you want those trees to thrive, not just survive? You’ve got to start from the ground up—literally.
Trust your soil. Work with it. And let your garden grow smarter.
