Soils & Potting Soil (163 items found)

If you’re preparing a garden in an area with mostly clay, rocks or sand, conditioning the ground to increase the nutrients and improve water and air circulation is crucial. Find an impressive selection of brands of potting mix, plant food and garden fertilizer to help your garden thrive at your neighborhood Ace Hardware store.

What’s the Difference Between Potting Soil and Potting Mix?

Potting soil and potting mix are two very different products. While potting soil contains dirt that’s often mixed with materials like sand and compost to help improve drainage and aeration, potting mix contains no soil at all. What’s more, potting soil is heavy.

Potting mix is composed of ingredients like peat moss, sphagnum moss, pine bark, or vermiculite and may contain fertilizer to provide plants with essential nutrients. Potting mix is typically lightweight.

Is Garden Soil the Same as Potting Soil?

Unlike potting soil, which contains compost and is meant to sustain container-based plants, garden soils have no added nutrients or substances. It’s meant to be mixed into the ground to help improve the soil and promote strong roots. Garden soil is affordable and great for water retention, but it should only be used in the garden, as the name suggests.

Different Types of Potting Soil

Ace carries several soil formulas and soil conditioners to help you create a healthy foundation for your favorite plants. The absorbent quality of vermiculite, a naturally occurring mineral, helps soil maintain a consistent moisture level, making it a great addition to dry soil.

Peat moss is another natural substance that helps soil retain moisture and nutrients. Some prefer vermiculite over peat moss for its longevity and mold resistance, but both are commonly found in soil-enriching mixtures.

In addition to all-purpose, moisture-control and organic soil varieties, different outdoor and indoor plant soils and potting mixes are formulated for certain types of plants. Filter through the options at the top of the page to easily find your fit.

Do Potting Soils and Mixes Contain Plant or Garden Fertilizers?

Fertilizer is any substance added to soil to provide nutrients plants need to thrive. Different types of plant fertilizers contain different types of nutrients in varying amounts, including:

• Nitrogen (N)
• Phosphorous (P)
• Potassium (K)
• Magnesium (Mg)
• Sulfur (S)
• Iron (Fe)
• Boron (B)

Many potting soils and potting mixes contain garden and flower fertilizers, which are listed on the packaging, along with the types of plants they’re best suited for.

Are Organic Potting Soils, Mixes, and Fertilizers Better? 

If you are considering organic vs inorganic plant fertilizers, which is better may depend on your preference. Certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), organic soils and fertilizers provide a wide range of nutrients due to their make-up of natural ingredients like worm casing, manures and compost. Although organic garden fertilizers work slower and can be pricier than inorganic options, many prefer them for their natural qualities and the overall positive impacts they can have on the soil.

However, you may want a more affordable and easier-to-apply inorganic plant fertilizer option that lets you target specific plant growth with a high concentration of precise nutrients. Unsure which to choose? Stop by your local Ace, where our helpful staff are happy to help you choose.

Find Garden Soil and Fertilizer Near You at Ace Hardware

At Ace, you’ll find a great selection of outdoor and indoor potting soils, mixes, and garden fertilizers from brands like Burpee, Black Gold and Miracle-Gro near you. While you’re at it, browse our time-saving gardening tools and other must-haves like mulch to help you make your plant-growing venture a success.