Top soil Brands UK

[Callum439]

Hi everyone

I am changing my horsefield tortoises substrate to a sterilised top soil but I can't seem to find any brands that provide enough detail on if it has been sterilised or not, does anyone have any recommendations of brands?

Thanks in advance

[Nina]

Hi Callum,

It's not easy, as some of the bags that you see in garden centres, etc. say 'sterilised' on them, and some say 'screened' (meaning it's been put through a sieve to get stones, bits of glass and plastic, etc. out). Lately I've been seeing far more of the 'screened' ones, and I think they are fine. Personally I just buy the best I can see on the day, and try to remember that out in the garden the soil isn't sterilised for them, so what you buy in bags is probably OK. What you don't want is topsoil where any extra nutrients have been added to make it more fertile.

I mix my topsoil with children's play sand at about 65% or 70% topsoil to 30% or 35% play sand (7 cups of topsoil mixed with 3 or 4 cups of play sand and mixed well, etc.). You will need to spray it every couple of days to keep it from getting dusty.

I just had a look online and this Wicke's topsoil says it is sterilised (when you look into the details) https://tinyurl.com/4zre9wsv and if you Google 'sterilised topsoil' others come up too.

Nina

[Callum439]

Hi Nina

Thanks for the reply I will have a look into the Wickes top soil aswell as mixing it with the play sand.

Thanks

Callum