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5+ Soil Additives to Improve Drainage in Wet Gardens

Improve Drainage in Wet Gardens



Is your garden muddy? Learn the best soil combinations to drain and use water more efficiently. After a rainy season (or even overwatering), does your vegetable garden resemble the third day of Woodstock? Soil drainage may be a problem! The good news is that there are soil additives to improve drainage in wet gardens.


But how do I know how well my soil drains?


Time for a science experiment! A quick soil drainage test can be done by digging a pit one foot wide and one foot deep. Fill the hole with water and wait for it to drain completely. Less than 10 minutes is considered fast, and the water may run off and not penetrate your plant and vegetable roots.


On the other hand, if it takes an hour or more to drain, it means that the water will sit on the roots of the vegetables for too long and cause mold and rot. In any case, soil additives should be used to improve drainage. Here are five soil additives that can help your garden use water more efficiently.


Perlite and Vermiculite



Perlite and vermiculite are two types of igneous rocks that are slightly swollen and lightweight. It is a recognizable element in many potting mixes on the market. Both perlite and vermiculite are absorbent, holding water longer and preventing the soil from drying out and cracking.


Sand


Sand is a good budget-friendly soil additive to improve drainage. The particle size of sand is much smaller than that of soil, and this helps prevent larger particles of soil from breaking up and binding together. Be sure to get garden-specific sand, not just play sand or construction sand, as horticultural sand is intentionally cleaned of impurities and salt that can damage your herbs and vegetables.


Beet moss



Peat moss is a soil additive to improve drainage for your fruits and vegetables that prefer acid soil, such as blueberries, watermelons, zucchini and green peppers. But there are some ethical concerns with using peat moss, as harvesting releases large amounts of carbon dioxide, which is bad for the environment. Do your research on this before deciding if it is best for your garden.


Compost


Organic matter such as compost is an excellent soil additive to improve drainage because it absorbs moisture and slowly releases it into the soil over time. There are many types of compost and easy ways to add compost to your kitchen and cooking practices. You can save money by making your own!


Mulch


Mulch is great on the surface of vegetable garden beds to keep weeds and insects at bay, but it's also an excellent soil additive to improve drainage. You have to play the long game with mulch, however, as it takes two years to break down into the soil to be an effective drainage additive.


Beyond soil additives, there are other ways to improve garden drainage issues, such as aeration techniques and strategic ditch placement.

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