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Complete guide to choosing the right bulk soil

ferti lee
Do you live on the North Shore of Montreal – for example in Laval, Saint-Eustache, or the surrounding areas – and are you looking for quality bulk soil for your outdoor projects? Choosing the right type of soil is essential to ensure the success of your lawn, vegetable garden, or landscaping. In this guide, we present the different types of bulk soil offered on leevrac.ca and explain which one is best suited for your residential use. Follow our practical advice to obtain fertile soil and optimal results, whether for a new lawn, a lush vegetable garden, or planting trees and shrubs – all while benefiting from premium quality bulk soil, delivered to the North Shore and surrounding areas.

Different types of bulk soil offered (and their recommended uses)

Before choosing, it is important to know the main categories of bulk soil available at Lee Vrac Transport (Saint-Eustache). Each soil has a different composition and optimal use:

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Screened Top Soil (standard lawn soil)

A premium raw topsoil, screened to 5/8″ to remove debris (stones, clumps). It naturally contains organic matter such as fine roots that enrich the soil as they decompose. This is the classic bulk soil for leveling the ground before installing a new lawn (sod or seeding). Please note: this regular topsoil is not recommended for top-dressing an existing lawn (as it is slightly coarser).
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Top Soil Ferti-Lee (enriched turf soil)

This is an improved topsoil, formulated by Lee Vrac. This mix is enriched with humus-rich black earth as well as composted manure. It also contains coarse sand and clayey loam to ensure good soil structure. The result is a superior quality turf soil that complies with horticultural standards (BNQ, City of Montreal). It is ideal for seeding a lawn and achieving quick success, for laying sod, as well as for planting trees or cedar hedges. Thanks to its organic richness, this turf soil accelerates germination and rooting: a lawn seeded on Top Soil Ferti-Lee will take root about one week faster than with ordinary topsoil.
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Premium Planting Mix (enriched premium soil)

This is the richest blend in organic matter, perfect for gardens. Composed primarily of fertile black earth, sphagnum peat moss, and coarse sand, this premium bulk soil is packed with nutrients. It is recommended for vegetable gardens, annual or perennial flower beds, and even for lawn top-dressing (overseeding) to thicken sparse grass. This super mix is a light and airy soil that retains moisture well, invigorating both the soil and plants. Spread in a thin layer over an existing lawn, it improves the existing soil while providing a fertile bed for new grass seed (a single cubic yard can cover a very large area for top-dressing ≈ 2,000 sq. ft.). It is the flagship product for reviving exhausted or nutrient-poor soils.
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Planting Soil Mix #2

This is a versatile soil mix often used for larger-scale landscaping projects (including commercial ones). Its composition is well-balanced: a blend of black earth, coarse sand, silty loam with a touch of clay, enriched with manure and vegetable compost. Mixed, shredded, and screened to 3/4″, it contains no large rocks (>5 mm). This #2 mix provides good drainage while retaining nutrients and moisture—meeting the growth needs of flowers and ornamental perennials. It also complies with BNQ 9101 standards and City of Montreal requirements for quality soils. In short, it is a high-quality standard soil, often favored for filling large flower beds, leveling ground before landscaping, or serving as an approved base in landscaping contracts. Homeowners can use it effectively for gardening projects requiring a significant volume of soil at a reasonable cost—all while benefiting from a controlled, contaminant-free composition.
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Fill Dirt (filling soil)

This is a coarse, unscreened soil sourced from clean (non-contaminated) excavated sites. It is sold at a very low cost and is used exclusively for filling: raising the grade of a lot, filling holes, or leveling a rough surface—for example, during new construction or to fill an old swimming pool. Fill dirt is not suitable for growing (low fertility) and may contain stones, roots, branches, or other inert materials. It is therefore used beneath a layer of better soil: it provides the bulk at the bottom, with premium topsoil or planting soil added on top. It is the ultimate economical solution for earthwork projects where horticultural quality is not required.
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Now that you are familiar with the range of bulk soils offered on the North Shore by Lee Vrac, let’s see which soil to choose based on your specific residential projects.

For a green lawn (installation or overseeding)

New lawn: Leveling and initial seeding

If you are installing new lawn (sod or seeding), make sure you start with a good foundation. It is recommended to spread a sufficient layer of quality turf soil on the raw soil before seeding or laying the sod. Two options are available to you for this crucial step:

Regular screened top soil

Ideal for leveling the ground before establishing your lawn. This North Shore bulk topsoil is finely screened to remove stones and clumps, making it easy to spread evenly across your property. Use it to fill in low spots and provide a clean bed of topsoil where your lawn's roots can take hold. This product is well-suited if your existing soil simply needs to be raised or leveled in certain areas. Tip: After leveling with the soil, use a rake or roller to lightly compact it and create a flat surface before laying sod or seeding.

Top Soil Ferti-Lee (enriched turf soil – Mix #1)

To give your new lawn an extra boost, opt for this blend enriched with compost and manure. It contains everything needed to boost germination and grass growth: more organic matter (black earth, compost) and a well-balanced sandy texture to retain just the right amount of moisture. Simply put, your lawn benefits from a more fertile environment than with ordinary topsoil, resulting in a denser and more vigorous carpet of grass, more quickly. Top Soil Ferti-Lee is also formulated to reduce the initial need for watering and fertilizer, thanks to its organic richness and ability to retain nutrients in the soil. Once properly leveled on the surface, it serves as a high-end substrate for both seeding (grass seeds) and laying sod. If lawn quality is a priority for you—for example, if you want a lawn worthy of a golf course 😉—this is the bulk soil to choose on the North Shore.

Practical tip – Layer mixing: If you need to fill a significant grade difference on your property before sodding, consider first using fill dirt for the first few inches of elevation, then top it off with screened or enriched topsoil. This way, you save on volume while ensuring a fertile top layer for your new lawn.

Topdressing and overseeding an existing lawn

Is your existing lawn looking a bit dull or showing bare patches? Topdressing (adding a thin layer of soil over existing grass) combined with overseeding can work wonders to thicken and restore it. For this type of lawn renovation, using the right substrate is crucial: avoid spreading simple, unamended topsoil, which is too heavy and nutrient-poor for this task. Instead, choose a light, compost-rich soil that will gently nourish the grass.
Super Planting Mix is ideal for topdressing a lawn. This blend spreads easily in a thin, uniform layer without smothering existing grass blades. It provides both essential nutrients for the soil and a welcoming environment for the new grass seeds you add. Spread it with a rake over the grass (previously mowed short) so that the soil just fills the gaps between the blades—you should still be able to see the grass underneath. Then, proceed with seeding on top and water regularly. The super mix will retain the moisture necessary for germination and improve the soil structure by gradually blending with your existing earth. The result: a denser, greener lawn in the following weeks, thanks to a simple addition of well-chosen bulk soil!
(Note: One cubic yard of super mix can cover approximately 2,000 square feet for lawn topdressing. There's no need to spread it too thick—a thin, well-distributed layer is best.)

For a productive vegetable garden and flourishing flower beds

When it comes to creating a vegetable garden or to landscape flower beds, the quality of the soil matters just as much as the quality of your plants. In fact, your vegetables and flowers draw all their nutrients from the ground. On the North Shore of Montreal, natural soils can vary (clay-based in Saint-Eustache, sandy in Laval, etc.), but by bringing in the right bulk soil, you can significantly improve the fertility of your garden.

For a bountiful and easy-to-maintain vegetable garden, we recommend using the premium planting mix. As mentioned, it is a very rich potting mix in compost and organic matter, which makes it a ideal garden soil. Here are its advantages for your crops:

  • It offers an excellent fertility from the very first year. Compost gradually releases nutrients (nitrogen, minerals) that the roots of your tomato, carrot, lettuce, and other plants can absorb at will. This will result in more vigorous and abundant vegetables than with depleted soil.
  • Its light, airy texture facilitates soil work and root development. The super mix retains moisture while preventing waterlogging, a perfect balance for most vegetable plants. Well-drained soil that remains moist helps prevent root rot and reduces the frequency of watering.
  • It is free from undesirable weeds (being sifted). Unlike unamended topsoil that one might sometimes receive unsifted, enriched potting soil is unlikely to introduce unwanted weeds in your vegetable garden – one less worry for you! (All of Lee Vrac bulk soil products are of the highest quality and carefully inspected to avoid this kind of problem.)

To install a new vegetable garden on an area that is currently lawn or bare soil, proceed as follows: delimit the area, remove the existing grass (if applicable), then lightly loosen the natural soil to a depth of approximately 15 cm. Next, add a good layer of ideal garden soil (premium planting mix) on top. You can lightly mix the two layers at the interfaces for a gradual transition, but this isn't necessary if the topsoil layer is substantial. Let it rest for a few days if possible, then plant or sow your vegetables. Your flower beds will benefit from the same treatment. The following spring, a light application of compost or topdressing with the same mix will renew the fertility, but most of the time, the soil will remain fertile for several seasons.

For planting trees and shrubs

Are you planting a shrub hedge or a fruit tree in your garden in Laval or the Basses-Laurentides? Then you'll need suitable soil to fill the planting holes around the roots. The goal is to give the new tree/shrub loose, nutrient-rich soil to establish itself, without straying too far from the natural characteristics of the surrounding terrain.

The ideal soil for this purpose is the Ferti-Lee Top Soil (Mix #1),which is an enriched sod mix that is also very well suited for planting trees. Its balanced composition (a blend of local topsoil, sand, and compost/manure) closely mimics natural topsoil: this means that a planting hole filled with this mix will not act like an isolated "pot" in the ground, but will encourage roots to spread out around it, while providing them with enough nutrients to get off to a good start. Furthermore, this #1 mix meets the standards of the Bureau de normalisation du Québec (Quebec Standards Bureau) for horticultural soil, which guarantees that it is free of contaminants and has the appropriate pH and texture for your plants.

Tree/Shrub planting tips

Dig a hole approximately two to three times the width of your tree's root ball, and to a depth equal to the height of the root ball (we don't want to bury the root collar deeper than the surrounding soil!). Mix some of the excavated soil with Ferti-Lee Top Soil, and fill the hole around the root ball with this mixture. This will prevent a harsh line between the original soil and the added soil. Lightly firm the soil with your foot to eliminate air pockets, water thoroughly, and then add the remaining mixed soil up to the ground level. Finish with a good final watering. This topsoil will drain well enough to prevent the roots from becoming waterlogged, while retaining useful moisture during the establishment period. Your trees and shrubs will develop deep and faster root systems, ensuring healthy growth.
(Note: For large-scale tree planting or large-area planting, Mixture #2 can also be used as a good quality fill soil, especially if the land to be landscaped must meet municipal or commercial specifications. However, for a homeowner, enriched Mixture #1 remains the best choice for each planting.)
Complete guide to choosing the right bulk soil

For other residential landscaping projects

Finally, your project may require loose soil for various uses not strictly related to lawns, vegetable gardens, or planting shrubs. Here are some common scenarios and our product recommendations:

Land leveling, space filling or mound creation

When you need to raise a section of your land, fill a significant hole, or shape a landscape mound, the most economical solution is to use bulk fill dirt for the major part of the volume. As explained above, this raw soil serves as a filling sub-layer. Spread and roughly compact the fill dirt until you reach the desired level, while still planning for a few centimeters less for the finish. Then, add a finishing layer of screened top soil or garden soil on top, depending on what you plan to landscape on the surface (lawn, flower bed, etc.). This way, the surface layer will be clean, fertile, and conducive to plant growth, while the underneath will have been filled at a lower cost.

Creating a new ornamental flower bed on existing grass

If you transform a portion of lawn into a flower bed or a rock garden, you will need soil to raise and improve the area once the grass is removed. For a bed of perennials or decorative shrubs, you can use bulk Mix #2. This versatile soil will improve the soil structure and provide a good growth medium for ornamental plants (it meets the needs of flowers and perennials). Here again, for a little extra surface fertility, there is nothing stopping you from mixing a bit of super mélange à plantation into the top few inches of the soil, especially if you plan on having heavy-feeding plants or a high planting density.

Replacing soil on depleted land

You have just acquired land where the topsoil has been removed or is of poor quality (too sandy or compacted)? Bulk soil allows you to bring your ground back to life. Spread screened Top Soil or, even better, enriched Ferti-Lee Top Soil over the entire surface to be restored, in a layer generous enough to be able to plant grass or plants. Without speaking of precise quantities, make sure to cover the depleted areas with a few inches of good soil. Subsequently, the roots of your plants will progressively mix the new soil with the old one at depth. You can accelerate this process by lightly working the added soil into the existing ground with a spade or a rototiller, but take care not to disturb the subsoil too much either. In a few months, the microbial life of the fresh top soil (fungi, beneficial bacteria, earthworms) will have colonized the old soil and recreated a living and fertile substrate for your landscaping.

Opting for loose soil: an ecological and economical choice

By choosing to buy bulk soil from a local North Shore supplier, you are doing something for both your wallet and the planet. Did you know that a single cubic yard of bulk soil is equivalent to about 30 bags of 25 L commercial bagged soil? By avoiding these multiple plastic bags, you significantly reduce your waste. Furthermore, bulk soil generally costs less for the same volume than bagged soil—especially when you have large projects. It is therefore a logical choice for all your major gardening or landscaping work.

Lee Vrac Transport is also committed to eco-responsible practices. Our Saint-Eustache bulk center recovers clean excavated soil (for fill) to give it a second life rather than sending it to a landfill. Our topsoil mixes are designed to be sustainable and of high quality, which translates into soils that require less watering and fewer chemical fertilizers in the long termleevrac.ca. In short, opting for a soil adapted to your needs means giving your plants the best chance to thrive naturally.

Ready to bring your projects to life? Ordering and delivery on the North Shore

Whether you need top soil in Laval, Montreal, or on the North Shore, garden soil for your vegetables, or a truckload of fill dirt to level your yard in Saint-Eustache, everything is just a shovel away 😉. You can easily order the bulk soil you need online at leevrac.ca, or pick it up directly at the bulk center. Delivery is available starting from as little as one yard, up to semi-trailer quantities (over 50 yards) for major projects. Do not hesitate to use our online calculator to estimate the required volume based on the area to be covered – this will help you plan without waste. And of course, contact us with any questions: our team will be happy to advise you on the right type of soil and offer you a free quote.

In summary, thanks to this guide, you are now informed to choose the bulk soil perfectly suited to each of your residential projects on the North Shore of Montreal. From screened top soil for your new lawns to super mélange for your gardens, including Top Soil Ferti-Lee for optimal results and fill dirt for basic work, each product has its advantages. By judiciously selecting the right soil, you guarantee the success of your landscaping – while benefiting from healthy, sustainable, and fertile ground. Happy planting and landscaping! 🌳🌼

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