Westland Top Soil, 35 L

Product Information

Westland Top Soil has a balanced clay, silt and sand composition with plenty of organic matter providing good structural stability under all weather conditions. Topsoil varies in depth increments from very shallow (0-25cm) to very deep (150cm+), and a number of factors will influence the recommended depth of imported topsoil. However you can still lay topsoil during winter, which will help to give your soil a head start when it gets to spring. Just make sure the ground is frost-free. Made with a combination of rich clay loam, sand and silt, this Top Soil has a very high humus and organic matter content. This helps to retain moisture and nutrients in the soil, making it suitable for use anywhere in the garden.

Coco Coir should be spot cleaned daily but changed completely every 2-3 weeks or when heavily soiled. Alternative, if you have the time, you can remove the Coco Coir every four weeks and pour boiling water over it to sterilise it and keep it lasting longer. If this is done every four weeks the Coir can last up to six months. These include existing soil and its quality: for example, if your existing soil is of good quality you may only need a shallow layer of topsoil to bring the depth up to a level surface. But with poor-quality soil, you may be better off importing the full recommended depth of topsoil. As with top soil you need to ensure you put enough Coir into the enclosure to enable the tortoise to dig and burrow. We would recommend a depth of around 3 inches for both Coco Coir and top soil to be sufficient. As with top soil you may notice mushrooms growing in your Coir. Again, when these are seen they simply need to be removed whilst ensuring you remove any spores from the enclosure at the same time.

How to Guide

Spring and autumn are the best times to lay topsoil. This is because the ground is warm and rain is typically more frequent, so you’ll likely see better, faster results. Some people add sand to their top soil but we wouldn’t recommend this due to the fact that not all sands are safe to include in your tortoise enclosure. When the top soil is sprayed, the water also soaks into the soil, keeping the soil lower down moist which in turn provides some humidity which is essential for the health of your tortoise. Cleaning Top Soil We know how important your garden is to you. We've listened to our customers and introduced a new improved speedy delivery service, meaning Express deliverycomes as standard. Of course, unlike top soil which can be taken from your garden for free, Coco Coir is more costly and it requires some preparation prior to use. Before using the Coco Coir you will need to soak the Coir to get it to soften and fluff up. Using Coco Coir

Do your research on what soil you need for your garden, as it isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach,” says Sutcliffe. But for general gardening or vegetable growing, John Dempsey, gardening expert from Housetastic, has this advice: “I’d recommend a layer of around 3-4 inches (approximately 100mm) of topsoil for general gardening and vegetable growing.Premium is the best quality-grade topsoil, making it perfect for growing vegetables and encouraging young or damaged lawns to grow. If you do choose to opt for Coco Coir you need to ensure the Coir you are purchasing is pure Coir so that it is safe for your tortoise. This choice of substrate is 100% natural and organic so if it is ingested by your tortoise it is completely harmless. Another key consideration is what you’re going to use the area for, such as creating lawns, general gardening or vegetable growing. Using topsoil during colder months helps keep your garden alive and healthy, as this is usually when your garden tends to become neglected," says Dempsey. How Is Topsoil Different From Garden Soil?

Top soil is a great substrate for tortoises because it most closely resembles their natural habitat in the wild. Top soil allows a tortoise to dig and burrow, which are behaviours they commonly exhibit in the wild. Also, don’t be alarmed if your tortoise takes a nibble of the top soil. They will simply be investigating their new substrate. Just ensure you also include appropriate plants, a cuttlefish and some lump chalk in their enclosure and your tortoise should nibble on those instead. Coco Coir is also odour free and loose which provides tortoises with an opportunity to burrow and dig which is beneficial for tortoise enrichment. Cleaning Coco Coir A number of factors will influence the recommended depth of imported topsoil (Image credit: Housetastic) What Are the Recommended Depths of Topsoil? Topsoil for turf or creating lawns only needs to be in the very shallow category, around 10cm, with Westland Top Soil a popular product for this.If you'd like more than 10 bags of compost please call our Customer Service team who can arrange for a bespoke competitive quote on 01480 774555 (standard network charges apply) Straw is also often used as bedding for tortoises but again we wouldn’t recommend this because straw can hold mould spores which in turn can cause respiratory issues in tortoises. If you want to create a type of bed for your tortoise, then using sphagnum moss is recommended. You should allocate an area near to the heat lamp (but not under it) as your tortoise’s bed, and fill it with the moss. You should remember to spray the moss regularly with water to keep it alive. Coco Coir Bags of suitable top soil can be found at most good garden centres or hardware stores. Alternatively, you can use soil from your garden if you can be sure it doesn’t contain added nutrients, fertilisers, compost or any pesticides. Using Top Soil After 3-4 months woodlice can be added to the top soil as a means of naturally cleaning the soil. The insertion of insects into a tortoises enclosure is often referred to as having a ‘clean up crew’ because these useful bugs feed on your tortoises poo and old decaying food.