Buying "Good" Topsoil?

Screened or shredded topsoil stored under cover.

There is an expectation that soil is loose, free of sticks and stones, and without large clumps of clay. But, topsoil, as it is harvested, of course is going to have organic materials in it.

Topsoil may fall in a range from sandy to clay, neither of which do I believe to be universally superior. Since trucked in topsoil often will not match your site soil's texture it is best to amend your existing soil with organic matter.

I believe the image many of us have of "good soil" comes not from a well structured and organic laden top layer of soil that has spent years building itself as an ecosystem but is the result of dirt being dumped into processors, screeners and shredders, which take out all the bulk material and fluff the medium up into a powder.

The waste material pile as part of the shredding and screening process

Soil shredder