Mulch holds onto water very well, breaks down and decomposes slowly, protects the soil from baking which is one of the reasons it gets hard in the first place, and it allows worms and other garden insects to feed on the slowly breaking down material.
This softens soil, and in between two and four years you should have perfectly loose soil. Vermiculite Vermiculite is again another volcanic rock might like perlite.
This glassy flat looking material is extremely absorbent, and when used with any combination of compost, perlite, or all three, it will break up even the hardest of soil and turn it into a usable soil that can grow plants better than you could have imagined. Port Huron, MI Exciting new items We are always adding new things to excite you about gardening. Explore MIgardener Overview. Explore possibilities Let your curiosity lead you! Gardening is about the adventure, not the destination.
MIgardener Blog. It can also hold onto water, which can help soil from baking and cracking. When organic matter is found in soil, it acts like a sponge. Mulch holds onto water, breaks down, and decomposes slowly. Thus, it can protect the soil from baking and getting hard in the first place. Between years later, you should have perfectly loose soil.
What are strategies to improve soil drainage for water-logged soil? Plant cover crops When you plant cover crops, you use excess water, which is good for soil health.
They essentially keep your garden from turning into a giant mud puddle. Eliminate tilling This is a longer-term strategy that helps improve soil structure because it no longer is compacted by equipment. This allows plants, insects, and fungi to create air spaces in the soil.
Add organic material As noted above, you can never go wrong when adding organic material! It improves fertility and increases drainage. By mixing and bonding soil particulars, you allow more space for air and drainage. Organic material can also help dry soil hold moisture.
Include subsoil Subsoil lifts the soil without mixing it or turning it over. Large farms often do this with a tractor and chisel plow or subsoiler. In a smaller garden, you can do it with a broad fork. Build raised beds Building raised beds is a quick solution that can help you create areas of good drainage.
Just keep that in mind! Consider sand If you have dense clay soils, then you may consider sand as a cheap solution to give your garden some much-needed drainage. However, we recommend that you add organic material instead. Not worth it! What are the solutions for very soggy gardens? Here are three solutions that you may want to consider. You may also require a rain garden or bog garden near the drain tile outlet. Final thoughts You now have the tools to improve soil drainage.
Have any questions? Let us know in the comments. Subscribe Now Disclaimer: we are not lawyers, accountants or financial advisors and the information in this article is for informational purposes only. Author Recent Posts. She used to help New Yorkers find affordable housing, now she helps people find affordable land around the US. Erika currently lives in the New York Metropolitan area with her spouse, daughter and cat.
She is originally from Chicago and still considers herself a midwesterner at heart. Erika also loves to read, write and travel fun fact, she has visited all 50 states and more than 30 countries! Latest posts by Erika see all.
Digging organic matter like compost or shredded leaves into your existing soil is one of the best things you can do to improve soil drainage. This simple fix works for almost any soil that drains too fast or slowly.
For an unplanted bed, spread inches of your organic matter across the surface of the soil and work it into the top inches a garden tiller or pitchfork will do the job.
For a bed that is already planted, add a couple of inches of compost to the soil surface each year and over time, nature will do the mixing. If you'd rather avoid lots of digging or want a quicker solution, raised beds are the answer. The beds should be at least inches above the existing soil level. You can purchase or build raised beds out of many different materials and size them to suit your needs. Creating well-draining soil in pots is similar. You can either buy bagged potting mix, or make your own blend.
It's best not to use soil from your garden in containers, no matter how well-drained. It tends to be too heavy and can contain weed seeds and pets that could cause problems later. This may be due to the removal of topsoil during construction, compaction with heavy equipment, or simply the lay of the land. If there is an area of the yard where the soil stays wet for long periods, the best solution may be to simply select plants that thrive in poorly drained, soggy soil.
Where digging is difficult, laying organic mulch and manure over the soil to break down, assists over the long term. Learn more about clay soil. Sandy soil tends to be fast-draining. To improve sandy soil, regularly add organic material such as compost, rotted manure and mulch.
When planting, work organic matter into the soil before planting and regularly spread organic mulch and manure over the soil surface to replenish organic matter. For new plantings, line the planting hole with several sheets of wet newspaper. This slows water loss for the new plant but eventually breaks down as the plant gets established.
You can also apply a soil-wetting agent such as Wettasoil from time to time to encourage water to soak in. Learn more about sandy soil. Buying a potting mix is also far more effective and efficient than mixing your own. Before adding potting mix, ensure the container has enough drainage holes for its size.
Resist the temptation to line the bottom of your container with gravel or similar chunky material, as this makes it harder for water to drain from the soil.
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