Critical BuildASoil reviews
Every review rated 1, 2, or 3 stars — 489 total. We publish them all, unfiltered, alongside the positive ones. A growing product that works perfectly for every customer every time doesn't exist, and we'd rather you see the whole picture.
228 3-star·96 2-star·165 1-star·1.8% of all reviews
A note from BuildASoil
Over the last 13+ years, we've grown into a much better company — and a lot of that growth came directly from our critical reviews. Every 1, 2, or 3-star review on this page taught us something. New formulations, better packaging, improved shipping, clearer instructions, stronger customer support — almost all of it traces back to a customer who took the time to tell us what wasn't working.
If you haven't tried BuildASoil in a while — or you tried us early on and it didn't go great — we'd genuinely love another shot. We get better every year, and we have the receipts to prove it. See what's new at buildasoil.com →
Showing 326–350 of 453 critical reviews
Matt W.
there is a tray out on the market that seems to be a bit more stiff and durable, this also leads to a better fit with the dome. When loaded up go to pick up the tray and bend or dome pops off or there is a unwanted gap around the base of the dome? If this is all you can get than by all means grab one but look for the thicker, heavier ones if you can !
on Standard Propagation Tray - 6 Pack →Kathleen R.
I planted the cover crop seeds by shallow raking them in to the raised beds and watering regularly. So far, three weeks later all I've gotten is a couple of crabgrass weeds. I'm very disappointed and obviously won't be ordering again. Perhaps the seed was old?
on Clover Cover Crop Blend - 12 Seed BuildASoil Mix 60% Clover →This is all Germ tested, high quality and fresh because of how much volume we go through. While I've never had issues in garden containers using mulch it can be very challenging to get cover crop to pop when broadcasting and shallow raking. Many times you need more water than you think. We would be happy to help in the future but I'm fairly sure it wasn't the seeds. I hope that helps! Pelletized seeds can take a bit more water to pop.
Andrew J.
I have had no success in the fight against fungus gnats using beneficial insects.
on Beneficial Insect Combo Packs (Medium) →Curtis M.
I'm not going to use the 2nd netting package I purchased for the 1st level, the holes are too big to do any kind of training of the plants, I made one out of a fence panel, I hope that the netting will work for the 2 level to just hold the buds up to ripen. {really wanted the green scrog screens} maybe later or next grow cycle.
on Trellis Netting for a SCROG Net →John B.
I like the results but not the price. Also the 2 not (potassium) is not wanted in my applications. W. Colorado soils are very high in Potassium already and at a cost of just under $200.00 for 40 pounds it is to costly for my rangeland applications.
The 2/20/2 has very good energy and for other small plot applications it is GREAT.
on Active 2-20-2 →Daniel T.
Neem just hasn’t been doing it lately. Bugs these days, I’m i right? Sheesh.
on Neem Oil - Wild Harvest From India →Daniel T.
Used this three times as part of BAS IPM. Mixed with agsil 16 and BAS neem. Didn’t see great results albeit I’m battling a wicked infestation. Maybe this combo just isn’t lethal enough. Either way, $50 bottle broke when it slipped out of my hand. Latex glove + oily glass bottle equals money down the drain and a house that smelled very fragrant for a few days. 3 stars because I couldn’t continue to use it but wasn’t impressed by that point.
on Essential Oil Blend →Matt S.
Straw(stalks)shouldn’t have seeds tops in it, so I have lots of barley growing in my pots and beds.
Overall it’s still a good product for the money and I would purchase again and recommend
on Certified Organic Straw Mulch →Jeffrey M.
This HF 23 strain is rated only for houseflies and should not be sold as a soil amendment as it does not take care of any significant cannabis pests.
on BuildASoil Beauveria Bassiana Plus →Thanks for the Review!! There was a publishing error on our label from our manufacturer and HF23 was the original used years ago to start the innoculations on plants that then generated the newer plant isolated versions of Beauveria. The Product we offer is NOT HF23 and is a blend of Isolated BB from bean plants and that's why it works so well. I promise this is an effective product for the plants and soil and not for the house fly.
doodoo b.
Been 5 days and 5% have roots and they stink bad. Kinda thinking this was a mistake, i dont want to introduce bad bacteria to my facility. Good thing that it was only 12 bucks i was screwed out of. Thanks anyway..
on Blue Corn Seed - Heirloom Organic For Sprouted Seed Tea →5 days is WAYYY to long. Have you reached out to customer service to help you with sprouting corn? We have thousands of customers and I personally use the corn all the time. I promise we can help get you dialed in.
Stephon O.
I like the cover crop, but I can do without the large crop seeds like the peas. They grew too tall and got in the way of the initial plant. I inevitably just removed the larger seed one at a time
on Clover Cover Crop Blend - 12 Seed BuildASoil Mix 60% Clover →Jim W.
I was using the barley straw for my pond and I did not feel that the description indicated how much you were getting in volume. When it said it was enough to mulch three plants I guess it was enough to do what I needed. I guessed wrong because their idea of mulching is not the same as mine. The picture shows a bushel basket and doesn't show you what size you are ordering.
on Certified Organic Straw Mulch →shuronda s.
Tent good quality but stitching around windows coming lose.
on Gorilla Lite Line Grow Tents →Dex
I wasn't necessarily in the market for a "soil symbiot" when I purchased a beauveria bassiana product, I was looking for something to help control root aphids. BaS later informed me via email that they make no claims regarding this product's effectiveness as a biological insecticide, and that's cool, but had I known that I wouldn't have purchased it. The customer reviews here paint a very different picture. As for me, 7 weeks and multiple applications later I'm seeing zero results. Perhaps the beauveria spores are indeed engaged in some manner of symbiosis with something within the soil web, I genuinely can't tell, but they aren't infecting any soft-bodied insects with muscardine, at least not in my garden.
on BuildASoil Beauveria Bassiana Plus →Totally understand. The product we offer is more potent than others labeled for pesticide but we don't make any claims because we don't sell it for that purpose. But, either way, all I'm getting at is that it's not a problem because the product is different. Would love to help if you have further questions.
Four Diamonds Hemp F.
Can’t give higher than a three star. Nutrients do not dissolve completely when mixed as instructed. Not a good product to use with an injection watering system. Also do not feel correct amount of total nutrients where received. If I use them according to the feeding schedule.
on Per Acre Hemp Pallet →Jack F.
Tweetmint contains Sodium Borate (Borax)
A little bit is ok but over time the Borax will build up on your plants and in your soil...In larger amounts, Borax is very bad for plants......
So you need to be very careful with Borax or best avoid it altogether..
on Tweetmint Enzyme Plant Wash →Boron is one of the most important micronutrients and the amount used in this product is minimal and will not build up or cause issue. This is one of the reasons it works so well along with the enzymes that cause insects to molt.
Derrick C.
Upon receiving I was disappointed that the bucket didn’t have anything to separate the compost from the leachate or a nozzle to drain the leachate to prevent from opening the bucket every few days and reintroducing oxygen to our anaerobic environment. I feel like one or the other would make a beneficial difference and both would set this bucket apart.
on Bokashi Bucket Kit With Grain →The problem with the Nozzle and the seperate compartment is that they actually let oxygen in the whole time. Leaving the leachate in the Bokashi is the preferable method for many and why we designed it this way. Sorry for the frustration!
manny vasquez, cindi p.
The product is good the only Problem is that I found plastic debris in it.
on Composted Wood and Bark Mulch →Totally possible! The wood bark comes from the screening of a local compost product and occasionally there will be some debris. Thanks for the honest review
GLENN T.
Bought 20" Reotemp moisture meter in May 2018. Worked great. Treated it with TLC the entire season. In Sept 2018 removed battery, cleaned probe, safely stored it in original packaging in heated garage.
May 27 2019 installed fresh alkaline battery, turned calibration screw to the far right, then dipped probe tip in glass of water. Was supposed to register 10 on the meter. Only registered 8. Installed a new lithium battery. Same result. Complained to REOTEMP customer service. They totally ignored me.
This device, used very carefully and kept clean and dry between every use and stored properly over winter, should last more than four months.
It works nicely but the 1-year REOTEMP guarantee is worthless. So let the buyer be aware.
on REOTEMP BACKYARD MOISTURE METER (15″) →Did you use tap water or filtered water during your moisture test? Would love to help
Daniel P.
1 cf loaded with twigs not worth shipping cost
on Oly Mountain Fish Compost →This is a hardwood compost and that's where the value lies! We back our products 100% so please let me know if you have photo's or have previous experience with this compost and feel it isn't up to par. We will not leave you hanging.
David M.
This is the first time I have purchased this type of compost so not sure what is normal. Must say I felt the need to screen the top half of the 11lb bag due to so many rocks and pebbles. Overall the product is dry and dusty. Again, not sure if this is normal for Pinto Bean Compost.
on Colorado Pinto Bean Compost - 1 Cubic Yard →IT's normal! It's an ugly mineral heavy compost with lots of calcium and phosphorous that gets a fantastic plant reaction. But i get it it! It's ugly!! We do purchase the product screened but there are rocks in it for sure.
Unanimous
Not recommended. This doesn’t include EVERYTHING that you need. You’re plants will suffer if you don’t use more inputs. Love the idea of it but it’s a pipe dream to be honest. This is just my experience.
on BuildASoil Craft Blend - Nutrient Pack →Jesse A.
I gave it 3 stars because it's basically too soon to really judge it. I think the true test will be when it's time to harvest. But I do have a REALLY annoying complaint. Letting the soil to cook for two weeks, turned it into a really great breeding ground for fungus gnats. I hope the cover crop I seeded today takes care of it but I doubt it. I'm going to recommend this product but only because there's no way to leave it neutral.
on BuildASoil Modern Mix V2.0 Complete Soil Building Kit →We Grow L.
there was nothing near the growth of mycelia that i get when i use gro-kashi.
on EM Bokashi →