Ever wondered why plants won’t grow no matter how much you water them? You’re not alone. Many are baffled about why their gardens won’t flourish.
You see, soil quality is one of the most common reasons why plants won’t thrive. A soil with poor drainage denies plants of nutrients needed for growth. With that in mind, planting them in well-drained soil usually solves the problem.
But what is well-drained soil? How do we know if it has good drainage?
These are some of the questions this post will answer. On top of that, you’d also learn how to make well-draining soil. So, without delaying further, let’s get moving!
What Is Well-Draining Soil?
As the name suggests, well-draining soil lets water drain efficiently. Some soil seeps water too fast, others drain at a snail’s pace. A well-draining soil absorbs water at a controlled rate in such a way it won’t create a puddle.
How to Know if You Have Well-Draining Soil?
You’d know you have well-draining soil through its physical appearance. For the most part, this soil type has a brownish color. Color isn’t enough to completely determine the soil’s draining ability, though. You need to run a test first.
To do that, you have to dig a hole about one-foot wide and one-foot deep.
Next, fill the hole with water, then wait for a maximum of 10 minutes. If the water drains within that period, then you have fast-draining soil. On the contrary, if the soil takes an hour or more to absorb the water, then your soil has poor drainage.
You can tell that the soil drains well if the draining time is somewhere between the two periods.
Why Do You Want to Use Well-Draining Soil?
So what does well-draining soil have that other soil types don’t?
To begin with, planting in fast-draining soil could lead to some serious problems. It reduces the plant’s time to absorb water. Thus, it disrupts the essential nutrients they need to sprout and grow.
Likewise, gardens with slow-draining soil are prone to pooling water. It cuts down the oxygen supply and hampers the plant’s growth. Furthermore, inadequate water supply might lead to insect damage and diseases.
On the other hand, planting in well-draining soil offers several benefits. First, it intensifies the nutrients that compost provides. Well-drained soil also prevents salt buildup that may damage your plants. Lastly, it allows roots to grow healthily.
How to Make Your Own Well-Draining Soil?
If you’re looking for ways to make well-draining soil, then the following sections are for you. You can do these methods individually or collectively.
Loosen the Soil With a Pitchfork
Loosening the soil is one way to make it drain efficiently. Doing so creates spaces between soil particles. These spaces allow air and water to move freely through the soil.
You can do this by turning the soil over with a pitchfork.
However, if the soil is hard and compacted, consider using a rototiller. It’ll make your job a lot easier. You just need to be extra careful using it.
Enhance Drainage With Organic Matter
Adding organic matter is another way to make well-draining soil. You may use compost or manure for this method. They’ll help the soil improve its structure and provide better drainage.
So, spread some compost about three-inch thick over the soil surface. After that, work the compost till it’s about half a foot deep in the soil. You may use a spade to help the organic matter make its way through.
Give the Soil Some Earthworms
Earthworms could likewise help you make well-draining soil. In fact, experts will tell you that earthworms are a sure sign of healthy soil.
So, if your garden doesn’t have these invertebrates, why not add some? Let these reddish creatures dig holes in the soil and improve water infiltration. These holes also help more oxygen to get into the soil.
Well-Draining Potting Mix
We discussed earlier that compost and manure improve soil drainage. However, there are other materials available that can do the same thing. They’re called potting mixes.
Some people call this gardening supply “soilless mix”. It contains no dirt or soil and is usually light and fluffy.
Perlite is one of the most common potting mixes. This mix helps decrease soil density and enhances water drainage.
Likewise, peat moss, vermiculite, and biochar help soil retain moisture. If you’re looking for a potting mix that neutralizes soil acidity, then limestone is the one you need.
Well-Draining Potting Soil
Some plant enthusiasts think that potting mix and potting soil are the same. That’s simply not the case.
You’ve learned earlier that mixes are dirtless. Potting soil, on the other hand, contains real dirt. Besides, mixes don’t have pathogens. Potting soil sometimes contains diseases like fungi.
To put this into perspective, potting soil has the traits of natural soil. So, it shouldn’t surprise us if it has some pathogens. You can combine this soil with compost to make it more nutritious for the plant. Consider adding some perlites as well to improve its drainage.
FAQs
What Does Poor Draining Soil Look Like?
Soil with poor drainage usually has a gray color. It’s an indication that the water can’t freely move around the soil. Additionally, you’d sometimes see moss in soil with poor drainage. These tiny green plants thrive in gardens susceptible to stagnant water.
Does Sand Drain Well?
Sand is a type of soil that absorbs water fast. Meaning, its draining ability isn’t as efficient as well-drained soil. However, you can improve its drainage by adding some soil amendments to it.
What Could Damage Soil Drainage?
Frequent walking and driving on well-drained soil could reduce its draining ability. These activities squeeze the soil’s pores and holes. To put it another way, compressed pores restrict air and water movement.
Final Thoughts
So what is well-drained soil?
Looking back, we’ve learned that well-drained soil helps plants thrive. In fact, it’s the best soil condition that most plants could ever have. The soil’s structure allows enough water and oxygen for plants to enjoy.
Likewise, we saw that we could make soil drain well if needed. We just have to follow a few steps to make it happen.