Manufactured top soil.

Many of the local garden centre seemed to be stocking manufactured top soil instead of proper top soil and the reason they give is either that it's all they can get hold of or that it is better than natural top soil because it is always a contant quality.
Has anyone ever used the manufacture soil? and if so is it any good?

 

Never heard of it, what do they manufacture it out of?

 

@pete Found this on a website:
Manufactured topsoil
Manufactured topsoil can be produced by mixing appropriate mineral and organic materials to create a rooting medium. Blends can include components such as natural topsoil, sand, overburden, subsoil, green compost and treated biosolids.
If the correct components have been selected and blended to the appropriate ratios, this can offer an excellent alternative to natural topsoil. But you should beware of manufactured topsoil that uses unsuitable additives or without the necessary quality control measures.

 

Sounds good in theory, but as it says, can you trust how its made.

 

I had to view this post, never heard of manufactured topsoil.

 

Er! sounds a bit if'y to me. I am sure that my Hon friend Nigel could spend much time talking over the scientific aspecs here.

I'd love to attend some meeting to discuss this.
Questions such as. What is the duration period of this final substance. Can it be reused etc. What is the balance of, what we consider to be. The natural soil borne 'livestock'. After all said and done. So many masses can and will support seed germination, plant growth etc. Yes. I am a bit scepticle about this. Modern multi purpose composts, made up of all sorts. Having made use of them, at the seasons end. You are left with a reusable matter, call it what you like.

 

Even that depends what use you're going to put it to, shiney. A couple of years ago, the compost manufacturers here used a mix of chopped wood waste and manure. Every time a pot was watered, it produced an evil-smelling and staining run-off. Not a problem in the garden, as soil conditioner, but definitely not good for pots.
The other big drawback to any woodwaste content is that it attracts xylophage insects. When the larvae have finished munching on the wood, they start on roots, corms and tubers!

 

The thing about soil is that it contains much more than organic material. Really it's about what the non organic parts are, as organic material needs to be added to it over the years as it decays.
Which is why some of us use JI compost in certain situations.

 

No such thing as JI here, sadly. Most serious gardeners buy sand, acquire WRFYM, use the local clay, sneak under cover of darkness in balaclavas to buy peat, get perlite from the builders merchants, and chuck it all into a cement mixer Oh the luxury of nipping round to the local GC and buying a couple of bags of ready-mixed!

 

I have often said. Put the right man on the rostrum, and he will sell the audience......a dead horse.