Improve Your Garden Soil
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| A sloping yard can create a multitude of drainage and soil issues. |
By Jenny Peterson
There are many challenges that I face as
a landscape designer— planning around munching deer or digging dogs,
finding plants that will work in deep shade, and dealing with
temperatures that soar over 100 degrees F. But the biggest challenge I
face on every project is soil health—more specifically, drainage. It's
not the most glamorous or fun part of gardening, but if you want your
plants to grow and thrive, start with great soil. We have to become soil
detectives if we want our gardens to grow well, and here are a list of
clues that I look for when I'm sleuthing around:
Grade or Slope Changes
Slopes are okay, but it's preferable if your yard doesn't slope down toward your house. This can create pooling water by your foundation, which can cause a lot of damage. Let your eye follow the slope down to its lowest point—that's where your water will go. Once you see how your land slopes, you can address any potential problems with terracing, additional soil, or regrading of the area. Regrading simply means changing the slope of the ground.
Standing Water
Look for pools of standing water, muddy soil when it hasn't rained, and evidence of moss or algae on the soil surface. These are indications of poorly draining soil that holds too much water. Unless you're planting bog plants, no plants will do well under these conditions. To check how your soil drains, dig holes in different parts of your yard about 1 foot deep and fill them with water. Note how long it takes the water to drain out of the hole. Repeat once more—it's the second filling that is important. If the water takes a couple of hours to drain out, you've got issues. Address the problem by regrading and/or amending the soil by adding organic matter.Cracked Soil
Sometimes soil has been compacted by construction, contains a lot of rock or caliche, or has never been amended. This dry, chunky soil is light brown in color with noticeable surface cracks; it is usually void of plant material. If there are plants in this soil, you will probably see evidence of declining plant health, such as pale leaves, minimal growth or blooming, wilted foliage, and pest or disease damage. Water will either drain right through this type of soil or run off because the poor soil can't absorb it. Break it up with shovels or heavier machinery, and amend it with organic matter.
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