Shop Products
Houzz Logo Print
colmjkenny36

Water retention and soil

Colm
14 years ago

Hello,

My wife and I just started a garden. The soil was incredibly compacted- I exaggerate only slightly when I say I could pour a glass of water on the ground and it would go 10 feet without absorbing into the ground. We prepped the soil (approx 300 square feet) w/ 2 yards of compost and 1 yard of mulch, let that cook for a couple of week, and then worked it in to a depth of 12 inches below ground surface. Got the soil really well mixed and fine. So...

problem I'm having now is that we can't seem to keep the garden moist, and it's not even the real hot part of the season here. I've been watering at night and in the early AM, approximately 4 gallons each time per 12'X3' bed (6 of them), applying 2 gallons, letting it soak in, then 2 more. So I don't think I'm losing too much to evaporation (although there's no mulch cover), and am thinking I have excessive drainage.

Any thoughts? Should I water more (we're in a drought here, so I'm loathe to do that). Kind of at a loss.

Thanks

Comments (3)

Sponsored
Ed Ball Landscape Architecture
Average rating: 4.8 out of 5 stars30 Reviews
Exquisite Landscape Architecture & Design - “Best of Houzz" Winner