Topsoil, Peat and Growing Media: How to Order Soil with Delivery at a Good Price
The right soil for the job
The word “soil” means very different things to sellers. Topsoil is good for filling beds and levelling a plot. Peat acidifies and loosens soil, but gives little feeding on its own. Ready-made growing media for seedlings or houseplants are made of peat, perlite, vermiculite and coir. Sand loosens heavy clay, and compost and farmyard manure enrich the soil.
So first say what you need it for: beds, lawn, seedlings, houseplants or raising the level of the plot. For raising the level, cheaper fill is fine; for seedlings, a special growing medium is better.
How much you need
The volume is simple to work out: area in m² times the thickness of the layer in metres. For a bed with a 20 cm layer over 10 m², you need 2 m³. Large amounts are sold by the cubic metre or by the tonne, while for small needs there are 50-litre bags. Ask the seller what unit the quantity is in, because m³ and tonnes differ depending on how moist the soil is.
What to put in your request
- what exactly — topsoil, peat, growing medium, compost, farmyard manure, sand;
- quantity — tonnes, m³, litres or bags;
- purpose — seedlings, houseplants, lawn, beds, raising the level;
- delivery address — city or village; this matters for a tipper truck;
- packing — loose or in bags, what volume;
- composition and quality — sieved, weed-free, acidity level, type of peat;
- delivery — tipper truck, unloading, access, date;
- budget.
Example: “I need sieved, weed-free topsoil, 10 tonnes, for a lawn and beds. Manila, delivery by tipper truck, access to the plot is available. Budget up to ₱8,800.”
How to compare offers
The main differences are in quality and logistics. Ask where the soil comes from, whether it is sieved, and whether it contains building rubble, roots or weed seeds. Ask for photos of the truck and of the soil itself. When comparing prices, include delivery: it can cost more than the soil, especially outside city limits. Find out whether they unload on site, and whether the truck can reach your gate.
On BlaBlaPrice you write one request, and soil suppliers reply in a chat with the quantity, price, terms and delivery. They can see where their offer ranks and improve their terms to win. The system shows the best-value offer first, seller reviews are next to it, and your phone number stays hidden. Read how it works on the “How it works” page.
Common mistakes
People order “by eye” and either run short or are left with a heap. They don't check whether a truck can get in. They buy ordinary soil for seedlings instead of a growing medium. They don't ask whether the soil was brought from a polluted place. For the next steps, see fertilisers, seeds and garden tools.
