Updated 25 October 2026. Facts on this page come from minecraft.wiki, minecraft.net and the live Artemis PvP server; sources are listed at the bottom.
Dirt Types in Minecraft: Coarse Dirt, Podzol, Mycelium and More
Minecraft has several dirt-like blocks: dirt, coarse dirt, rooted dirt, podzol, mycelium, dirt paths, farmland and mud. Grass spreads onto plain dirt but not coarse or rooted dirt. Podzol and mycelium let mushrooms grow in light, and a hoe turns coarse or rooted dirt back into dirt. Grass blocks, podzol and mycelium drop dirt without Silk Touch, and farmland and dirt paths always drop dirt on Java; plain dirt, coarse dirt, rooted dirt and mud drop themselves.
What does each dirt type do?
| Block | Where it is found | Special |
|---|---|---|
| Dirt | Under grass almost everywhere | Grass spreads onto it |
| Coarse dirt | Savannas, badlands, taigas | Grass does not spread onto it; craft from dirt and gravel |
| Rooted dirt | Under azalea trees | Hanging roots grow under it |
| Podzol | Old growth taigas, bamboo jungles | Mushrooms grow on it in light |
| Mycelium | Mushroom fields | Spreads onto dirt; mushrooms grow on it |
| Dirt path | Shovel on grass or dirt | Slightly lower, for paths |
| Farmland | Hoe on dirt or grass | For crops |
| Mud | Water bottle on dirt | Turns into clay with dripstone |
How do you make coarse dirt?
Craft 2 dirt and 2 gravel in a square to get 4 coarse dirt. It is useful for paths and gardens, because grass will not spread over it. A hoe turns it into normal dirt. Gravel: sand and gravel.
Which need Silk Touch?
Grass blocks, podzol and mycelium drop dirt unless mined with Silk Touch. Farmland and dirt paths always drop dirt on Java, even with Silk Touch. See grass blocks and mushroom fields.
What about mud?
A water bottle on dirt, coarse dirt or rooted dirt makes mud, which builds into mud bricks; see mud and mud bricks.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make coarse dirt?
Craft 2 dirt and 2 gravel.
Sources
Every fact on this page was checked against these pages; the wording is ours.