How to Choose Materials for Your Next Landscaping Project

Birds are chirping, flowers are blooming, and you’ve got your next landscaping project on your mind.

What materials do you need to get the job done? Let us walk you through the five most common materials to use in landscaping and gardening.

Material	Uses	Things to Consider
Gravel	Rock gardens, edging garden beds, walkways, driveways, drainage, construction	Helps suppress weeds in garden beds Beautiful aesthetic Can choose variety of colors and textures Priciest material
Potting Soil	For potted plants, including flowers and vegetables	Needs to drain well and stay aerated due to potted placement Pricier, but can substitute topsoil blended with organic compost for larger projects
Topsoil	Vegetable gardens, flower beds, drainage, evening yards	Mid-level price Can be prone to erosion over time
Fill Dirt	Raising garden beds, leveling off land, securing retaining walls, construction projects, foundation work	Does not shift or decompose over time Does not have nutrients, not good for gardening Cost-effective Packs well
Sand	Play areas for children; walkways; stabilizing pavers; drainage; fill around water tanks, septic tanks, or ponds	Can be used with gravel for lower-cost backfill projects Aesthetically pleasing for exposed areas Does not retain moisture, good for drainage Does not hold its shape over time

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