A cubic yard is a pile of dirt that is 3 feet wide, 3 feet long, and 3 feet high. This means that 20 cubic yards is a pile of dirt that is 15 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 3 feet high. A small dump truck can hold up to 5 cubic yards, but many companies offer bigger trucks that can hold 10 cubic yards or more. With 3 inches of dirt, a cubic yard of dirt can cover an area that is 10 feet by 10 feet.
Today’s Homeowner says that dirt should be dumped as close as possible to the place where it will be used. Each cubic yard of soil weighs about 2,200 pounds, which makes it hard to move 20 cubic yards of dirt by hand. With a medium-sized wheelbarrow, it takes nine trips to move one cubic yard of dirt.
When buying dirt, it’s important to get the right kind for the job. Sand is a good choice for a project that needs fill for a concrete floor or an above-ground pool. If you want to plant a garden or make raised beds, you need top soil. If you buy from a nursery, you can often have them mix the soil with compost or peat moss before they deliver it. Screened soil is better for your lawn or garden because all the rocks and sticks have been taken out.
