Most Central Texas yards sit on thin soil over limestone or heavy clay. Soil, compost, and mulch can each fix a different part of that problem, and they can easily be mixed up when ordering. This guide covers what each product is for, when to use it, and how much you should order.
Quick Pick: Match the Material to the Job
| Job | Best pick |
|---|---|
| New raised beds or a vegetable garden | Garden Mix |
| Planting beds and general landscaping | Landscape Mix |
| Leveling a lawn or prepping for sod | Sandy Loam |
| Building up planting beds | Screened Chocolate Loam |
| Improving soil you already have | Premium Organic Compost |
| Feeding heavy growers | Turkey Compost |
| Beds and tree rings | Hardwood Mulch |
| Beds, slower to break down | Cedar Mulch, Double Grind |
| Large areas on a budget | Cedar Mulch, Single Grind |
| Dark color contrast | Black Mulch |
| Playgrounds and play areas | Kiddie Cushion Mulch |
Everything here is sold by the cubic yard, and Hardwood Mulch and Black Mulch are also available by the bag for small jobs. Pricing is quoted when you order. Browse the full lineup on the Compost, Mulch & Soil page.
Soil and Loam
- Garden Mix - Ready to plant. You can use it to fill raised beds and vegetable gardens when you are starting from nothing. We recommend asking for this when you need garden soil delivery in Georgetown, Cedar Park, or Leander.
- Landscape Mix - An even blend of soil and compost. It works well for new shrub and flower beds, and for filling in around new plantings.
- Sandy Loam - Drains well and spreads easily. It is the standard choice for leveling low spots in a lawn, topdressing, and laying a base under new sod.
- Screened Chocolate Loam - A richer, darker loam that has been screened. Use it to build up planting beds that require more body than sandy loam provides.
Compost
Compost is not a soil replacement. It is an amendment you mix into existing soil or spread thin over it.
- Premium Organic Compost - Suits almost any use: work 1 to 2 inches into the top few inches of a bed before planting, or spread a quarter to half inch over a lawn as a topdressing.
- Turkey Compost - Higher in nitrogen, so it suits vegetable gardens and plants that need a strong push. Blend it in rather than planting directly into it.
If you are starting a new bed and want soil and compost already combined, order Garden Mix or Landscape Mix instead of buying the two separately.
Mulch
Mulch holds moisture, keeps roots cooler in a Texas summer, and slows weeds. Lay it 2 to 3 inches deep and keep it a few inches back from trunks and stems.
- Hardwood Mulch - The all-purpose option for beds and tree rings.
- Cedar Mulch, Double Grind - Finer, gives a cleaner finished look, and breaks down more slowly than hardwood.
- Cedar Mulch, Single Grind - Coarser and the lowest cost per yard, which makes it a good fit for large areas where coverage matters more than a fine finish.
- Black Mulch - Dyed for a deep, even color that makes plants and stone stand out.
- Kiddie Cushion Mulch - A soft, impact-absorbing mulch made for playgrounds. Play areas need a much deeper layer than planting beds, so call us with your dimensions before you order.
Want a cover that never breaks down? See how river rock compares as a mulch alternative.
What About Fill Dirt?
Fill dirt is for raising grade, not growing. If you are leveling a lawn or filling shallow low spots where grass will grow, Sandy Loam is going to be the better choice. For large fill jobs, call our team at (512) 260-9273 and we will recommend the right material.
How Much to Order
One cubic yard covers about 108 square feet at 3 inches deep, or about 162 square feet at 2 inches.
- Mulch refresh on a 300 square foot bed at 3 inches - about 3 yards
- Two 4x8 raised beds filled 12 inches deep - about 2.5 yards of Garden Mix
- Topdressing a 2,000 square foot lawn at half an inch - about 3 yards of compost or Sandy Loam
For other sizes, use our coverage calculator.
Delivery and Pickup
We deliver bulk soil, compost, and mulch throughout Central Texas from our Leander yard, including Round Rock, Georgetown, and Austin. Delivery is quoted per order by distance and truck type. See the delivery page for how it works, or the bulk delivery guide for what fits in a truck load.
You can also pick up at 600 N Bagdad Rd in Leander, and we rent trailers if you want to haul it yourself.