What it is
Unscreened native dirt, sold by the cubic yard. Run-of-pit material — includes rocks, sticks, root pieces, and other natural debris. The cheapest soil in our yard, sold for what it's good for: grading and structural fill.
What it is for
Fill, not planting. Three primary uses:
- Grading work. Building up subgrade before a sod install, leveling new-construction lots, filling around foundations.
- Low-spot fill. Areas where water ponds — fill, compact, top with screened soil or sod.
- Structural fill behind retaining walls. With proper compaction.
- Backfilling utility trenches that won't be planted (driveways, sidewalks).
- Building up the base for above-ground patios where the patio sits directly on graded soil.
What it is NOT for
Don't plant in Fill Dirt. It's:
- Not screened — rocks, sticks, occasional debris.
- Variable in composition — clay-heavy from one delivery, sandier from another.
- Not tested for contaminants — fine for grade work, but you don't want unknown soils in your vegetable bed.
- Low organic matter — won't support productive plant growth.
For planting, use Premium Soil Mix (general landscape) or Bella Flora Potting Mix (raised beds and containers).
How much do I need
| Application | Yards needed |
|---|---|
| Filling 4x10 ft low spot at 6" deep | 0.7 |
| Grading new-construction yard (per 1,000 sq ft of yard at 3" rise) | 9 yards |
| Building up sloped lot 6" over 500 sq ft | 9 yards |
| Behind 4-ft retaining wall (per 10 LF) | 6 yards |
For new construction grading, calculate volume = area × depth, convert to cubic yards (divide cubic feet by 27).
How to use it
- Dump. Wheelbarrow or skid-steer to place where needed.
- Spread to rough grade.
- Compact in 6-inch lifts. This is what makes the difference between fill that holds and fill that settles 6 inches over the first year.
- Cap with screened soil if anything will be planted on top — 4-6 inches of Premium Soil Mix over fill.
Texas/DFW specific
In our clay-heavy soil:
- Native fill dirt is typically heavy clay. Wet it before compacting for best results.
- Don't fill against a foundation higher than 6 inches below siding — moisture wicks up.
- For yards prone to ponding, combine fill dirt for the structural lift plus crushed limestone or drainage rock at the lowest point for actual drainage.
Buying tips
- Bulk delivery only — typical orders are 5+ yards. Available in tandem-load (22 yards) for grading jobs.
- Cheapest soil product we carry — by design.
- Don't order more than you need. Excess fill is hard to get rid of.
- Order with a topsoil cap if the area will eventually be planted: 1 fill + 4-6 inches of screened soil on top.
Contractor notes
Volume pricing at 10+ yards. Tandem-load drops for grading jobs. We can drop fill and screened topsoil in sequence on the same truck for new-construction installs.