Garden soil?

[pagan queen]

I just wondered why everyone uses shop bought top soil. Can you just use garden soil?

[EquestrianBabe]

There's usually no fertilizer in topsoil. There might be in garden soil.

[pagan queen]

How long do fertilizers last in the soil?

[yuna1971]

Again, I am not sure on this - I mean, if you have treated your garden soil, with weedkiller, pesticides and the like - then yes, it will have this in it. For how long...is another question and one I dont know the answer to. But not sure there would be anything wrong with plain old garden dirt/soil...if it hasnt been treated.
See if anyone else has opinions. Having not done this...I am not 100% sure PQ.

[Ch+Stewie]

I also find normal soil from the garden to be quite rocky (it is in my garden anyway). I once found Stewie choking on a small rock that she managed to get stuck in her mouth when she was out in the garden. It scared me to death and thankfully I was there to quickly twease the rock out, so i'd only use fine top soil, especially for little ones.

[Bindi]

People tend to use topsoil from bags as it is usually sterilized. Soil from the garden is fine but it may have insects or eggs or whatever in it.

[Alan1]

bagged topsoil from homebase and B&Q is sterilised topsoil (loam) which is just topsoil. other stuff is available which has things mixed in with it like clay or whatever and usually fertiliser. it will say on the bag.

this is the topsoil from homebase that is ok
http://www.homebase.co.uk/webapp/wcs...tNumber=648091

and B&Q http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.js...ondid=10288058

out your own garden is fine as long as you didn't put weedkiller or fertilisers on it or no cat craps but there is always risk of worm eggs from birds poops