Constantly soggy soil makes it tough for most garden plants to survive.
Use these ideas to either fix the problem or work better with what you have.
That’s because the soil has tiny pore spaces that hold oxygen that roots need to stay healthy.
Credit: Laurie Black
But there is good news!
Some plantsthrive in constantly moist, even wet, soil.
How Wet Is Your Soil?
If you have wet, soggy soil, moisture-loving plants such as cardinal flower will still thrive and bloom.Credit: Denny Schrock
The first step in working with soggy soil is to get to know it better.
Determine which areas of your yard get frustratingly wet and how long they stay that way.
Here’s a simple test that’s used in the landscape trade to gaugethe drainage of a particular soil.
Credit: Kritsada Panichgul
Dig a hole 18 inches deep and about 12 inches wide in the wet area.
Fill the hole with water.
The water level should drop steadily and be completely drained within 24 hours.
Credit: Dean Schoeppner
Compost is filled with pore spaces for oxygen.
Mix it with slow draining soil to help add valuable air pockets.
This is a multi-year process.
Incorporate 3-4 inches of compost yearly to improve drainage over time.
Build a Rain Garden
Arain gardenis a terrific solution for areas that are prone to periodic sogginess.
Attention to detail is key to success when installing drain tile.
Carefully analyze slope, tile depth, and where the water will outlet.
A rain garden or bog garden might be necessary near the drain tile outlet.
An 18-inch-deep trench will usually work for most landscape drainage situations.
The trench should have enough of a slope to move the water to the drainage area.
Make the trench an inch or two wider than the pipe you plan to install.
Lay drain tile on top of the gravel.
Then, fill the trench to the surface level with topsoil.
If you’re worried about critters getting into the pipe, place wire mesh over the opening.
If you do cover the end, check that to clean debris off the mesh to avoid blockages.
