Which topsoil mix is best for your lawn and garden? In this article, we discuss our basic topsoil—screened sandy loam—and the formula for each topsoil blend that it’s used in. We’ll also talk about the applications for each product.
This article is the first in a three-part series about topsoil:
- “Choosing a Topsoil Mix for Your Yard & Garden” (this article)
- “What is Sandy Loam?: A Basic Guide to Soil Types”
- “Organic Topsoil from Orting: How It’s Mined”
Topsoil Products Overview
Our three main topsoil products are the following:
- Basic Topsoil (formally known as Screened Sandy Loam)
- 3-Way Topsoil
- Garden Mix (also called 50/50)
These three products are compared side by side above.
You may notice that Basic Topsoil is the lightest in color while Garden Mix is the darkest in color. The more compost the product contains, the darker it appears. Basic Topsoil contains no compost while Garden Mix contains the most compost.
Learn more about the differences between each product and how they are used in the rest of the article.
Basic Topsoil (Screened Sandy Loam)
What It Is
Our screened sandy loam topsoil is the building block for all of our topsoil blends, which is why we also call it “basic topsoil.” Sandy Loam is a great base material because it drains well and can be mixed with amendments like compost to create a more nutrient-rich blend.
What’s In It
Sandy loam is a naturally occurring topsoil that is mined at King Creek Pit. Check out our article to learn more about how our sandy loam is mined and processed.
Material 3/8″ in diameter and larger is removed from the topsoil by shaking it through a screen, hence the word “screened.”
The word “loam” refers to a type of topsoil that is considered the ideal proportion of clay, silt, and sand.
As the word “sandy” suggests, sandy loam has much more sand than regular loam. Sandy loam is a great topsoil because it can be mixed with other amendments to create custom blends that nourish plants while providing adequate drainage.
How It’s Used
Sandy Loam provides better structure than soils enriched with amendments like compost. This makes it a great and affordable option for mounding and building up lawns and gardens. Richer soil blends can be reserved for the topmost layer of soil.
Topsoil Blends
3-Way Topsoil and Garden Mix are both mixes of sandy loam and compost. They differ by the proportion of sandy loam to compost.
3-Way Topsoil
What It Is
3-way traditionally refers to a three-part blend of sand, topsoil, and compost. Because our topsoil is naturally sandy, we make 3-Way Topsoil using just topsoil and compost. This blend is denser than Garden Mix (50/50) but lighter and richer than Basic Topsoil.
What’s In It
2/3 Sandy Loam + 1/3 Organic Compost
The compost we use is made from locally recycled garden prunings, food products, and vegetable trimmings. It contains no biosolids or manure.
Check out a video below to see how 3-Way Topsoil is made.
How It’s Used
3-Way Topsoil can be used to
- fill in landscaping features like flower beds and gardens
- seed new lawns
- lay new sod
- plant things that can handle a denser soil, like trees and shrubs
Our product meets the planting bed soil requirement for Post Construction Soil Quality required by Pierce, King, and Thurston counties.
Garden Mix (50/50)
What It Is
Garden Mix, also known as 50/50, is our most compost-heavy topsoil blend. It’s traditionally a blend of 50% loam topsoil and 50% compost. Our blend is made with sandy loam, making it sandier and more well-draining than a traditional 50/50 product.
Compared to 3-Way Topsoil, Garden Mix is a lighter mix and more nutrient-rich.
What’s In It
50% Sandy Loam + 50% Organic Compost
The compost we use is made from locally recycled garden prunings, food products, and vegetable trimmings. It contains no biosolids or manure.
How It’s Used
Garden Mix can be used to
- grow produce
- fill raised garden beds
- fill planters
For more information about Washington Rock’s topsoil products, visit our Topsoil product page.
Check out other helpful articles on our blog:
- “What is Sandy Loam?”
- “Organic Topsoil from Orting: How It’s Made”
- “Clean v. Minus”
- “Comparing Crushed Rock Sizes & Types”
- “How Do I Make a Gravel Surface Wheelchair-Accessible?”
- “How Do I Pick a Gravel Grid Product?”
- “How Many Cubic Yards Do I Need?”
- “How to Find, Vet, and Hire a Contractor Who Can Work with Rock”
- “Should I Put Landscape Fabric Under Gravel?”
- “What are Gravel Grids?”
- “What are the Pros and Cons of Using Gravel Grids?”
- “What Does a Cubic Yard Look Like?”
Washington Rock Quarries is a family-owned business that produces rock, sand, and soil products at Kapowsin Quarry and King Creek Pit in Orting, Washington. To learn more about our products, check out our Products page.
This article was originally published in March 2017 and was updated in April 2022 and March 2025.