How Do You Fix Poor Soil Drainage: 5 Simple Solutions
Soil is one of the most important components on our planet. We rely on it for food, landscaping, and practically anything that involves plants. When soil collects water, it needs to be able to drain, or else it can cause a vast array of issues for your garden. If the soil can’t drain properly, all of its vital nutrients will wash away and leave behind a plot of useless dirt.
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The roots of your plants can also suffocate if there’s too much water. Like humans, roots need oxygen to survive and grow. What’s more, all the bacteria and fungi necessary for life can drown if your soil can’t drain efficiently.
Continue reading below to discover how to improve your soil drainage.
1) Use Compost
If you notice that only small pockets of your soil aren’t draining properly, you can try mixing in some organic materials (compost) to try and solve the issue. Compost can give the soil an oxygen boost that will help keep all the life inside alive. However, this isn’t an overnight solution. You’ll need to add compost to your soil several times per year to improve the drainage.
Some common compost materials are:
- Leaves
- Grass trimmings
- Coffee grounds
- Manure
- Fruits/vegetable peelings
2) Add Drain Tiles
The name can be a bit confusing, considering drain tiles aren’t actually tiles. What they are is a drainage system that is modeled after the French drain. In essence, a drain tile is a pipe placed underground that allows water to drain from one area to another.
If you live somewhere with frequent heavy rainstorms, installing drain tiles in your garden can be extremely beneficial. What’s more, installing them is far easier than it seems. All you need is the drainage pipe, some gravel, and free time to construct the tiles.
If you don’t have the time or skills to build one, consider reaching out to a professional for help. Many landscaping companies have experience installing drain tiles, so they can get it done quickly.
3) Construct a Rain Garden
A rain garden is a designated area of your lawn that helps direct water flow, preventing too much moisture from gathering in a certain area. You can imagine a rain garden almost like a dam that slows down water flow and distributes it throughout the lawn.
Most people build a rain garden with plants that can thrive with large amounts of water in the soil. If done right, a rain garden can significantly improve the aesthetics of your property.
4) Make Sure Your Gutters Are Working Properly
Sometimes your gutters can be vindicated when it comes to too much water in your soil. One of the first things you should check is your downspout. If your gutters are to blame, you can try extending your downspout, so it directs water further away from your garden.
You should also make sure your gutters aren’t blocked. Clogged gutters can not only cause damage to your yard but to other key areas of your home.
5) Build a Creek
While not everyone has the time to build a creek in their yard, putting in the hard work can pay off if you constantly have a flooded garden. If you notice a few soggy areas, you can dig out a creek to help redirect some of that water to other areas of the lawn.
Digging a trench is time-consuming, but it will bring tremendous value to your landscaping in the long run. Furthermore, a dry creek can make the rest of your yard look amazing.
Conclusion
No doubt, dealing with soggy soil can be frustrating. That said, there’s usually a solution. You can give one of the above methods a try to see if that helps. If you want to get help from a team of experts, All Dry USA has extensive experience restoring flooded soil.
Reach out to our team today at (866) 286-5387 to schedule an inspection with one of our contractors.
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