I live out in the sticks, where there's more construction sites than actual developed areas, and lots of times they keep those extra long dumpsters out there to be filled up with tree stumps, refuse, etc. They generally get loaded on trucks about once a week and dumped into an inert landfill. This is often where I get rid of my soil, and just the soil...I keep the bags. Even still, I can understand how this is an unnecessary risk.

If I kept used soil inside a 55-gallon barrel, what needs to be done to make it suitable for outdoor gardening? I don't grow any vegetables outside, but I've got a lot of area that I use for perennial shrubs and annuals in the spring. I'm sure it would be good for the flowers, but will a low N topsoil be alright for my leafy shrubs? Or should I only use it in areas where there will be flowers?