Poorly draining soil - Ask Extension
The soil in my garden seems to drain very poorly. After a good slow soak with a handheld nozzle or a sprinkler, 10-30 minutes, the water starts to poo...
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Poorly draining soil #752003
Asked May 25, 2021, 10:16 AM EDT
The soil in my garden seems to drain very poorly. After a good slow soak with a handheld nozzle or a sprinkler, 10-30 minutes, the water starts to pool up yet the water only reaches about one to two inches deep. Below that it is bone dry.
I’ve attached a photo but I’m not sure it tells you much.
The soil doesn’t feel particularly clayey nor sandy. Somewhat grainy.
What can I do to improve the drain ability of my garden soil?
Thanks.
Multnomah County Oregon
Expert Response
Thank you for your question. Your problem is not an uncommon one, but the solution is a longterm one to improve both your soil's health and drainage. This OSU Extension article provides advice about how to do that over time: https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/Extension-Master-Gardener/improvinggardensoilswithcomposting.pdf
I hope this is helpful. Good luck!
Here’s what the expert said. See the link. I haven’t read it in detail.
I'm not certain who you were sending this to, but it came back to me.
