Topsoil in Miami, FL

Topsoil is the topmost layer of soil that contains the highest proportion of organic matter, nutrients, and microbial life. In Miami projects you should choose screened topsoil when you need a planting, lawn, or garden-ready surface - for example when installing turf, flower beds, vegetable gardens, or when raising beds to improve water retention in sandy native soils.

For a new lawn plan on 4 to 6 inches of good quality topsoil over a prepared base. In Miami, where native soils are very sandy, 4 inches is the minimum for turf like Bermuda or Zoysia; St. Augustine and sod installations benefit from 6 inches. Use the rule of thumb: 1 cubic yard covers about 100 square feet at 3 inches, so calculate accordingly.

Yes - you can put topsoil over gravel, but the layer needs to be deep enough for roots and plant establishment. For grass you generally want 4 to 6 inches of quality topsoil on top of the gravel. Also ensure the gravel layer is stable and not contaminated by fines that will sink into the topsoil - a geotextile fabric between gravel and soil can help maintain separation and drainage.

No. Two inches is not sufficient for healthy lawns. It provides little rooting depth and dries quickly in Miami's heat and sandy soils. Use at least 4 inches for seeded lawns and 6 inches for sod or when planting more moisture-sensitive grasses.

Yes - people use decorative gravel or river rock over soil to reduce erosion, improve surface drainage, and lower maintenance. However, gravel placed directly on topsoil can limit plant growth and make future planting harder. For paths, driveways, or beds, install a geotextile fabric and a compacted base before gravel. For planted areas, leave topsoil available where roots need to grow or use gravel only as a thin decorative mulch where plants are not required to root below it.

Remove debris and large rocks, grade for proper slope and drainage away from structures, then loosen compacted soil where the topsoil will be placed. If drainage is poor, consider installing a subsurface drain or using a sand/aggregate layer. Mix in compost or organic matter at a 10-30% ratio to improve water and nutrient retention in Miami sands.

Add well-aged compost to boost organic matter and water-holding capacity. For sandy Miami soils, a mix of 70-90% screened topsoil with 10-30% compost is common. Consider a slow-release fertilizer tailored to the plants or turf type, and if you are near the coast use salt-tolerant amendments and select salt-tolerant plant varieties.

For small areas you can screen the soil with a hand or tractor-mounted sieve, or rake and pick out stones manually. For larger areas use a skid steer or excavator to remove the top layer and re-screen it, or hire a contractor who will use mechanical screening and haul off excess material. If mixing is minor, adding more screened topsoil and blending may be faster than removing everything.

Costs depend on volume, accessibility, disposal distance, and equipment needed. Small DIY removal might only cost tool rental and disposal fees. Contractor removal in Miami commonly ranges widely - from a few hundred dollars for small areas to $500-$2,000 or more for driveway-sized jobs. Per-cubic-yard contractor rates often fall in a broad range; always get local quotes. Factors that raise cost include tight access, heavy compaction, contaminated material, and long haul distances to disposal sites.

You can till rocky soil, but rocks will blunt or damage hand tillers and small rototillers. For rocky conditions use heavy-duty tillage equipment or excavate out large stones first. Removing rocks before tilling improves soil structure and reduces wear on equipment.

Reuse old gravel for drainage trenches, French drains, garden paths, or as base material under patios and pavers. You can also sell or give it away locally, crush it for base material if allowed, or have it hauled to a recycling or disposal facility. Reusing on same site often saves money.

Minimums, lead times, and free-delivery availability vary by supplier and neighborhood. Typical minimums range from a half cubic yard to 1 cubic yard; lead times commonly run 1-5 business days depending on supplier inventory and traffic. In Miami watch for narrow streets, HOA or city rules on where trucks can park, and scheduling during off-peak hours to avoid traffic. Enter your address in Hello Gravel to see exact availability, pricing, and delivery windows.

Inspect the delivered material for color, odor, and texture. Good screened topsoil should be dark, crumbly, and reasonably free of large roots, rocks, and construction debris. Check for excessive clay or sand relative to your expectations, and ask for a small sample if you need lab testing. Confirm the delivered volume looks right - one cubic yard is about 27 cubic feet - and take photos if anything looks off so Hello Gravel can help resolve issues.

As of today, we require 2 business days for delivery.

Use our material calculator here: https://hellogravel.com/calculator/ to enter the length, width and depth measurements of your project. It will automatically calculate the cubic yards/tons needed. If you are unsure how much to order, contact our team for guidance.

Please type in your zip code on any product screen and it will let you know if we service your area. The chances are that we do!

The material will be delivered via dump truck. If your order is under 20 tons, then it will likely be just one dump truck load. If your order is more than 20 tons, it will be more than one dump truck load.

Absolutely! Try our aggregate quiz here: https://hellogravel.com/aggregate-quiz/ Alternatively,you can call us, chat with us (box in the bottom right corner of the website), or email us!

We cannot get out of the truck and manually spread it. However, depending on the location, safety, and comfortability of the driver – we may be able to tailgate spread your material. This involves pulling the truck forward as material is being dumped to make it easier for you to distribute material after delivery.

The minimum order size is 3 tons.

Hassle Free! Our goal is to make the buying process for gravel and other aggregates as easy and seamless as possible. Enter your zip code on our site, select how much material you need (see below FAQ’s to determine order size), select the date and time frame you would like your material delivered at Checkout, and place your order with any major credit card. After the order is placed our in-house support team will contact you to confirm the details. We will send additional confirmations on the day before and the day of delivery. On delivery day, a dump truck will arrive to dump the materials at your specified location. We request that you have someone available to accept the delivery so that we can make sure to dump it in the correct location. That’s it!

No, because we are a national supplier, we utilize our existing network of suppliers across the country. Therefore, the materials will likely be delivered from a contracted trucking company.

We specialize in making the aggregate buying process as easy and seamless as possible by managing the process from end to end. We have a network of suppliers that we source the materials from where we have negotiated rates. However, we do charge a markup and because of this you may be able to find the materials cheaper on your own. But if you want a hassle free experience, then we are for you!

Please fill out the Quote Request form and we will work up a quote for you! https://hellogravel.com/quote-form/

Although uncommon, due to regional sourcing, the type and color of our materials may vary somewhat from the images on our website, reflecting the unique geological offerings of your area. Please communicate any specifications you desire to our team so we can consider them during the sourcing process.

Please contact our customer service team promptly if you experience any delivery or product quality issues. We will work to resolve them satisfactorily.

We are headquartered in New Orleans, LA. However, we have a network of suppliers across the country from which we provide the materials.