I've watched your videos about making compost and garden beds and have learnt a lot but to hurry things along, I want to purchase garden soil as the soil here is hopeless. I read that soil should be stored in a rodent proof enclosure, one method suggested was to use galvanised mesh to surround the area and also place the galvanised mesh on the ground and on the top. I plan to order 3 cubic meters of gardening soil with amendments of aged cow manure and mushroom compost to use as I progressively make garden beds, further adding home made compost. As I live in close proximity to neighbours I don't want to be responsible for a rodent problem.
Gardening How to store bulk garden soil to avoid rodents making it their home.
- Thread starter Suzy Pat
- Start date
- Admin
- #2
The rodent-proofing is mostly for composting, as the rotting food is awfully tempting. Though, depending on where you live, you might have other types of rodents that could interfere (I've seen farms with mole issues back in The Netherlands). Plus, certain rodents might dig up your plants.
Do you know of any rodent issues in your area, and if yes, which rodents might that be?
Do you know of any rodent issues in your area, and if yes, which rodents might that be?
- Joined
- May 27, 2012
- Messages
- 5,198
- Location
- Bellmere, QLD
- Website
- www.selfsufficientme.com
- Climate
- Sub-Tropical
- Admin
- #3
I have not heard of or experienced problems with rodents nesting in piles of garden soil myself.
Compost and buried scraps can attract rodents, although this is something I do all the time, and rodents are not a problem, but it might be different in other places.
Rodents will likely nest in dry, stable areas rather than a pile of loose soil. I wouldn't worry about galvanised mesh or anything like that.
About the garden soil. Ensure you obtain high-quality garden soil, rather than poor-quality soil that may be mixed with manure and mushroom compost. Often, a premium soil doesn't need to be supplemented with fresh animal manure or have special additives to improve its quality. Adding fertiliser and compost is something you can do later once the soil is in your garden.
I generally stay away from "homebrand" soil mixes from landscape centres because they are often inferior. If I'm going to go through the cost of buying soil I will seek out a premium professional brand. For example, I use Candy Soil https://candysoil.com.au/ (not affiliated), which is stocked at good garden centres around Queensland. If I'm not sure, I will ask the landscaping centre if the premium soil is from Candy. I have never had a bad load of soil from Candy, but I have had bad soil from other providers and learnt my lesson.
Good premium soil should be black or darker grey, indicating a good mix of composted organic material. It should hold together when squeezed and then crumble when poked with your finger. The soil shouldn't be too sandy or fall through the fingers easily, nor should it be too heavy and sticky when squeezed together. It should also have small rocks or stones (inorganic material) for minerals, etc, and have an "earthy", pleasant organic smell about it, not an acidic urea smell.
Compost and buried scraps can attract rodents, although this is something I do all the time, and rodents are not a problem, but it might be different in other places.
Rodents will likely nest in dry, stable areas rather than a pile of loose soil. I wouldn't worry about galvanised mesh or anything like that.
About the garden soil. Ensure you obtain high-quality garden soil, rather than poor-quality soil that may be mixed with manure and mushroom compost. Often, a premium soil doesn't need to be supplemented with fresh animal manure or have special additives to improve its quality. Adding fertiliser and compost is something you can do later once the soil is in your garden.
I generally stay away from "homebrand" soil mixes from landscape centres because they are often inferior. If I'm going to go through the cost of buying soil I will seek out a premium professional brand. For example, I use Candy Soil https://candysoil.com.au/ (not affiliated), which is stocked at good garden centres around Queensland. If I'm not sure, I will ask the landscaping centre if the premium soil is from Candy. I have never had a bad load of soil from Candy, but I have had bad soil from other providers and learnt my lesson.
Good premium soil should be black or darker grey, indicating a good mix of composted organic material. It should hold together when squeezed and then crumble when poked with your finger. The soil shouldn't be too sandy or fall through the fingers easily, nor should it be too heavy and sticky when squeezed together. It should also have small rocks or stones (inorganic material) for minerals, etc, and have an "earthy", pleasant organic smell about it, not an acidic urea smell.
Thomas123Selena!
Member
- Joined
- Jun 25, 2025
- Messages
- 11
Thanks for the great info, Mark. Really helpful tips on soil quality. Quick question, if soil needs to be stored for a month or two, is it better to cover it with a tarp or leave it open? And does storing it on concrete vs. bare ground make any difference? Appreciate your advice!
- Admin
- #5
I've been told to protect soil from the elements as much as possible, so keeping it on concrete with a tarp over top may help.
Rain can wash out nutrients, and leaving it exposed means weeds might grow into it before you are ready to plant this.
Though, I do not have much practical experience towards this. But I keep my potted soil in a bag, under a roof. And I try to keep it as air-tight as possible so it doesn't become hydrophobic. If I've left the bag un-used for a long time, I often stick the hose in it and leave it soak for a couple of days to revive it.
Rain can wash out nutrients, and leaving it exposed means weeds might grow into it before you are ready to plant this.
Though, I do not have much practical experience towards this. But I keep my potted soil in a bag, under a roof. And I try to keep it as air-tight as possible so it doesn't become hydrophobic. If I've left the bag un-used for a long time, I often stick the hose in it and leave it soak for a couple of days to revive it.
A pile of straw, with a nearby compost pile = Hotel Rodentia with an all they can eat bistro next door. But a pile of soil, nah. They can and will burrow underground, but a loose pile of soil is dangerous for them to burrow in because it'll collapse on them because it's loose. They're more likely to burrow through the compacted dirt that already exists in your yard.
Similar threads
