A lot of areas have places that sell dirt processed from local yard debris (here, its a nursery) and I buy the 50-50 mix for semps (and iris, any other plant that likes well drained soil) it's half premium planting mix and half loam. Most areas have something similar, and I like it because it's cheaper (I have had yards of it delivered $$ but you can also have tubs filled) and it's free of pearlite, which I dislike. We are on heavy clay so I have made raised beds of about 6" of 50-50 mix that I plant things in or on. Good luck, and welcome!
