what is the difference between dirt and soil?

Answer 1

If you're a gardener and you're digging, what are you digging in, soil or dirt? There are 13 entries for soil at Dictionary.com and 7 for dirt (that's strange, two odd numbers for amounts, and these numbers are my lucky ones; sorry for the digression). Here's one definition for soil: The top layer of the earth's surface consisting of rock and mineral particles mixed with organic matter. Here's one for dirt: The part of the earth's surface consisting of humus and disintegrated rock. Humus and organic matter are included in both definitions and these two substances are considered to be black gold to gardeners. This tells me that dirt and soil are one in the same. Thank goodness I've cleared this up for everybody, well, almost everybody.

an extra bit:::::
Master Gardeners and Horticulture folks like using the word soil when discussing garden related topics. Don't ever say your planting in dirt if any members of these groups are within earshot. You'll be eating dirt (humble pie) if you do.

Answer 2

Difference Between Soil And Dirt

Answer 3

True gardeners rarely refer to soil as simply dirt. They understand the difference between the stuff you dig up in your backyard versus the "black gold" that consist of compost, manure, decomposed organic matter and millions of beneficial microbes that are actively at work underground Let's start with soil texture. Texture refers to the relative percentage of sand, silt and clay within the dirt. Ideally, you want to have an equal amount of each. When these three are proportionate, the soil is said to be loamy. Soil with great texture allows plant roots to spread, moisture to be retained (but not to excess) and essential air pockets to exist between the tiny spaces of the soil particles. Next is soil structure. Simply put, structure is how sand, silt and clay fit together. Good structure is evident when the soil holds together if squeezed, but breaks apart or crumbles easily when disturbed. As I work to achieve ideal soil structure, I am constantly working to blend the right amounts sand, silt and clay to get the results I described above. In my Georgia garden (which was mostly clay) I usually find adding plenty of compost and aged manure do the trick.

Answer 4

Soil when its in the garden or yard. Dirt when the same stuff is on the kitchen floor.

Answer 5

Soil is all the earth, and it is divided into several layers, called horizons, and each is comprised of several mediiums; clay, sand and loam. Soil grows plant life. Planting soil from the store and nurseries are artifilically made, fir bark, sand, and nutrients.
Dirt is what we get on ourselves when we play in the soil.

Answer 6

Like my soil management professor said many years ago, "dirt" is what you have under your fingernails, and "soil" is a medium for growing plants. If you were to use the word "dirt" in his class, he said he would flunk you. I believed him..lol

Answer 7

Alot of varibles, sand loam, loam, clay, sand.

I like to call the best stuff Top soil it has all the microrganisms for breaking down the natural elements (nitrogen, phosphous, potasium) a plants roots can't do this alone, the micro's help.

Soil types clay retains mouisture, B*tch kitty to plow.
sand easy to plow, does not retain moisture.
Sandy loam , better a blend of good on both sides
Loam, the best easy to work, retains moisture, has a
odor of life, earthworms thrive.

Good soil is earned and yery rarely given.

Answer 8

honestly nothing. the big deal is you buy soil for $2.00 a bag at a store. you buy dirt $50.00 a dump truck load. so if you look at it this way soil $200.00 a ton dirt $12.50 a ton. which way do you like your coffe? maxwell house or starbuck's ???

Answer 9

Soil is something full of living organisms, and falls into several main categories: clay, sand and loam.

Dirt is what is on your socks and in your vacuum cleaner.

Answer 10

dirt is dirt, and soil usually is a man made mixture of humus, sand, silt, clay and other organic matter, great for growning a variety of plants providing excellent drainage an nutrient holding capacity