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 151–175 of 209 critical reviews
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 →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 →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 →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
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.
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 →Gilberto M.
After spending a large amount of money for the worms, i expected to receive somethong more than what was sent.
on Worms: Red Wigglers →nicholas h.
I'm not sure I havent had to add any extra nitrogen durring the early growth, I've just been making compost teas brew for 2 days or so then feed them, I havent given them any just plain water yet, just flipped into 12/12 there are others still under 18/6. in added this whole bag into a 6cuft of soil and it seems to be working, I have this fertilizer mix and the clover cover crop I feel it may need more as it gets further along in the bloom phase, I'll have to bulk up the compost teas with more sugars and beneficials
on BuildASoil Craft Blend - Nutrient Pack →Urban F P.
I grow indoors, the smell is very strong so
I will not recommend this product to an indoor grower. I didn't even get to notice any result. It's an outdoors fert.
on Thrive.N - Organic Amino Acid →Ayo J.
Great fan for my 4x4 tent, but I had trouble mounting it. I ended up putting in a PVC pipe, and tied it off to that.
on Clip Fan →JT
Really wish BAS would offer the grade of aloe powder safe for human consumption. Bummer having to order two different aloe products when the originally offered aloe concentrate took care of me and my plants. Can you not offer both, or would that provide too much competition to the plant-only version, thereby unpadding your margin ?
on BuildASoil Horticultural Aloe →I probably could offer both but they are such expensive purchases and the human grade really isn't nearly as good for the plants. It's missing over 80% of the properties that we want for the garden.
Chris
Great product but the price has steadily increased over the years. Considering switching to a new amendment.
on BuildASoil Craft Blend - Nutrient Pack →Marcel M.
Got the pack couple of the soils were looking pretty dry I didn't know if that's the way they were supposed to be so still use them still made pretty good tea.
on BuildASoil Home Brew 6 Pack →Giselle l.
Still have the fungus gnat problem. Seemed to help at the beginning. Ended up with white fungus on the neem cake. I'm kind of frustrated.
on Neem Cake - Ahimsa →Canna W.
However I haven't recieved it yet so good product bad shipping!
on Oly Mountain Fish Compost →Brett E.
Good ingredients: haven't noticed any improvements yet after top dressing a week ago
on Nutrient Kit: Re-amend Old Soil →Christopher O.
I'm sure they are A great quality product to stake your plants up, I've used them before.. BUT they are the reason why I "Felt" like I had A horrible first time experience. I wasn't aware that they couldn't fit in the flat rate box as the other products I ordered. So for 2 weeks I was wondering why hasn't my order been shipped or why hasn't someone replied back to me?? BUT everything got sorted out, I got my products except the Bamboo Stakes and even got 1 of my products upgraded for the hassle/confusion!!
on Bamboo Stakes →Leo B.
You guys should fix the shipping option. I most certainly didn't select pick up intentionally. I had to get it switched and it was a addition 15 bucks. I got confused because my recipept said it was to be sent to me PO Box and then I got an email saying it was ready for pickup. Other than that hugely disappointing and complicating event everything else is good. It's definitely in your best interest to fix that. It's pretty obvious when someone is out of state they are highly unlikely to go to Colorado for pickup especially when they enter and address to shop to. Streamline the shipping options a bit more and make the page a bit more easy to navigate on mobile and you guys are gold. Your products are good, service itself was good when engaging to fix the issue and I really want to see the best for you guys! Thanks for the cover crop! Expect another order here shortly!
on Clover Cover Crop Blend - 12 Seed BuildASoil Mix 60% Clover →Oliver S.
We’ve been testing Tweetmint vs. GreenClean and Einsteins. At this point the jury is out as to whether it performs better both in regards to cost and pest control.
on Tweetmint Enzyme Plant Wash →