How to Make Potting Soil from Garden Soil Easily

Ever wonder if you can turn backyard dirt into rich potting soil? You sure can—and I’ve done it many times myself. In this guide, I’ll show you how to make potting soil from garden soil using simple tools and a few key ingredients.

Over the years, I’ve tried lots of mixes to see what really works, especially for everyday gardens here in the U.S. If you want healthy plants without spending a lot on store-bought soil, this method is for you.

Can You Use Garden Soil as Potting Soil?

The short answer? Not as-is. Garden soil straight from the ground is too heavy for pots. It packs down fast, which blocks airflow and drains poorly. Roots can’t grow well, water gets stuck, and your plant starts to suffer. I’ve tried it myself—and most of the time, it didn’t end well.

There’s another issue: bugs, fungus, and weed seeds. Outdoor soil is full of life, and not all of it is good. You don’t want that stuff spreading in your home or attacking your potted plants.

Why You Need to Change It

Here’s the good news: you can use garden soil in pots—if you fix its flaws. I’ve done it many times. With just a few simple materials, you can turn that dense dirt into a light, rich mix. It works great for pots, raised beds, and outdoor containers with herbs, flowers, or veggies.

What You’ll Need

You don’t need anything fancy. Most of this stuff is easy to find at garden centers or even around your home.

Basic Ingredients:

• Garden soil – The base. Avoid heavy clay unless you’re ready to work on it.
• Compost – Adds nutrients and keeps the mix loose. I use scraps from my yard and kitchen.
• Coco coir or peat moss – Helps hold water and keep things light.
• Perlite or coarse sand – Improves drainage and stops roots from rotting.

Optional Add-Ins:

• Worm castings – Natural booster for plant growth.
• Aged manure – Great for feeding veggies long-term.
• Organic fertilizers – Pick one that fits your plant’s needs.

Tools:

• Sieve or sifter – Gets rid of rocks and clumps.
• Tarp or tub – Makes mixing easy and tidy.
• Shovel – For scooping and turning the mix.
• Gloves – It’s a messy job, trust me.

Quick Reference Table:

Category	What You Need	Why It Helps
Base	Garden soil	Main ingredient (needs improvement)
Structure	Compost, coco coir or peat moss	Lightens soil, feeds plants
Drainage	Perlite or coarse sand	Keeps water from pooling
Add-ons	Worm castings, aged manure, fertilizer	Extra nutrition for strong growth
Tools	Sifter, tarp, shovel, gloves	Makes the job easier and cleaner

How to Make Potting Soil from Garden Soil

I’ve used this method in my own Midwest backyard. It’s worked great for tomatoes, herbs, and flowers. Here’s how to do it:

Sterilize Your Garden Soil (Optional but Smart)

If you’re using this mix for houseplants or seedlings, it’s best to kill off pests and disease.

• Oven method: Spread soil on a tray and bake at 180–200°F for 30 minutes.
• Sun method: Seal soil in a clear plastic bag and leave it in the sun for 2–3 days.

This helps stop bugs, mold, and weeds before they become a problem.

Sift Out the Junk

Run your soil through a mesh or sifter. Toss out any rocks, sticks, or big clumps. This step makes a big difference in texture and plant health.

Mix Your Ingredients

Here’s my go-to recipe:

• 2 parts garden soil
• 1 part compost
• 1 part coco coir or peat moss
• ½ part perlite or coarse sand

Mix it well on a tarp or in a large bin. If it looks too heavy or wet, add more sand or perlite.

Test the Feel

Grab a handful and squeeze. It should hold its shape a bit but crumble easily. If it’s sticky or soggy, adjust your mix. This part gets easier with practice.

Store It or Use It Right Away

Keep your soil mix in a covered bin or heavy-duty bag. Store it in a dry place. I like to make a big batch in early spring and use it as needed.

When and Where to Use This DIY Potting Soil

So, you’ve made your mix—now where does it shine?

From my own experience, this homemade potting soil works great in some places and not so well in others.

Best Uses

• Outdoor Planters: Use it in porch pots or patio containers. It drains well but still holds enough water. This is a big help during dry summers, especially in the Midwest or South.
• Raised Beds: If you’re building a raised bed and want to skip pricey bagged soil, this mix works great. I’ve used it in 4×8 beds for zucchini, beans, and more.
• Herbs and Veggies: This mix is ideal for strong growers like basil, oregano, tomatoes, peppers, and lettuce. I’m in USDA Zone 6, and these plants did great with this soil and a layer of mulch on top.

Not the Best For

• Houseplants: This mix is too rough and heavy for most indoor pots. Even when sterilized, it can pack down and hold too much water. I learned that the hard way when my pothos turned to mush.
• Delicate Seedlings: If you’re starting seeds indoors, stick with a light seed-starting mix. Even improved garden soil can be too dense for young roots.

My Experience (What’s Worked in My Garden)

Wondering if this homemade mix really works? I’ve used it for years—and yes, it does. I’ve had lots of wins… and a few “oops” moments too.

Plants That Thrived

Some of my best results came from using this DIY mix in raised beds and patio pots.

• Tomatoes loved it. I grew ‘Cherokee Purple’ and ‘Roma’ varieties, and both gave me big harvests.
• Basil and parsley grew fast and full, even during dry weeks. The soil stayed moist but didn’t drown the roots.
• Peppers, like jalapeños and bell peppers, also did great. I grew them in 5-gallon buckets on my deck (Zone 6b), and they handled the heat like pros.

What I Messed Up (So You Don’t Have To)

One big mistake? I skipped the sterilizing step. I used raw garden soil for houseplants—and soon had gnats flying around my kitchen. Lesson learned: always sterilize if you’re growing indoors.

Another time, I added too much compost. I thought more was better, but it made the soil too soggy. My lettuce rotted before it could grow. Now, I stick to the simple recipe and only tweak it in small ways.

Time-Saving Tips

Here are a few tricks that made things easier for me:

• Mix in bulk – I make a big batch on a tarp each spring and store it in a lidded bin.
• Pre-sift your soil – Do this once and you won’t have to pick out sticks every time.
• Keep extras handy – I store peat and perlite in the shed so I can fix heavy batches fast.

It’s not just about saving money—it’s about knowing what’s in your soil. Once you get the hang of it, making your own mix is fun and super rewarding.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the best intentions, it’s easy to make mistakes when learning how to make potting soil from garden soil. I’ve made just about all of them. If I could give my beginner self some advice, this would be it:

Using Too Much Compost

Compost is amazing—but too much can hurt more than help. I once made a batch that was half compost. I thought I was giving my plants a treat. Instead, the mix stayed wet and slimy. The roots couldn’t breathe, and my lettuce turned yellow fast.

Skipping Drainage Material

This is one of the biggest mistakes. If you skip perlite or sand, water can build up. Your plants may rot from the bottom up. I learned this the hard way one wet spring when my peppers all died before they could bloom.

Not Sterilizing When Needed

If you use your soil indoors or for seedlings, sterilize it. I skipped this once and had tiny gnats flying around my windows in a few days. Not fun at all.

Using Clay-Heavy Soil Without Fixing It

Some garden soil, like in parts of the Midwest or Texas, has a lot of clay. That kind of dirt dries hard, cracks, and smothers roots. It’s no good in pots unless you lighten it first.

Final Thoughts: Is It Worth It?

So, is making potting soil from garden soil worth the effort? For me, it’s a big yes. You save money, know exactly what’s in your mix, and learn more about your plants as you go.

It’s not always perfect the first time. I’ve had soggy buckets and surprise bugs, too. But once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy. If you grow food or flowers outside, this mix is great for raised beds, patio pots, and 5-gallon buckets.

Here in the U.S., soil and weather can change a lot from one place to another. That’s why this method works so well—you can adjust the mix for your needs. In dry areas, I add more coco coir to hold water. In wet places, I add more sand to help it drain. Store-bought bags don’t give you that kind of control.

If you’re just starting out, don’t stress. Try the simple recipe. Watch how your plants respond. Then adjust as needed. Gardening is all about learning—and this is a great place to start.

Want to dive deeper? Check out my other simple guides on making compost and testing your garden soil. They’ll help you get more from every scoop of dirt.

FAQs: How to Make Potting Soil from Garden Soil