Overwatered or waterlogged soil is one of the most common problems when growing plants in the garden. When water does not drain from the soil properly and completely, it can cause soil to be waterlogged, which can damage root systems and even drown your plants. But how would you go about drying out overwatered soil quickly?
To dry out soil quickly, you can apply hydrated lime to the soil, add compost and then turn the soil thoroughly to aerate it. Adding hydrated lime and compost will help absorb the water in your soil, and turning it all will help distribute the water in the waterlogged soil throughout your garden.
If you’re having issues with waterlogged soil, you’re not alone! Wanting to give your plants more than enough water may seem like a good idea in concept, but can lead to dead plants and waterlogged soil. If you’re often ending up with muddy soil, you may need to install a new garden sprinkler system or charge your irrigation system design.
However, you’ll want to resolve the waterlogging issue quickly to avoid your plants’ health suffering. Luckily, we have put together tips, tricks and information on waterlogged soil and how to dry it out quickly in this article, so all you have to do is keep reading!
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How to Tell if Soil Is Overwatered
Overwatered or waterlogged soil is not an uncommon occurrence, and you will know if your soil is overwatered if:
- Your soil is still wet to the touch hours after watering
- The leaves on your plants are yellow and have brown spots or edging
- The stems on your plants are soft and weak
- Lots of bugs are gathering around the base of your plants
These are the most obvious signs of waterlogged soil. A physical inspection of the soil is the best way to confirm whether or not your soil is waterlogged. If you are still unsure, a local irrigation specialist will be able to let you know if your soil is overwatered, waterlogged or just a bit damp.
What Does Waterlogged Soil Look Like?
If your soil appears noticeably wet or has small amounts of water pooling at the surface, that is a key indicator that your soil is waterlogged. Overwatered soil can also be identified by an increased amount of insect activity in the soil around the base of plants.
The most obvious signs of waterlogged soil is an increased wetness and a soggy texture. Having large puddles on the surface is another indication that the soil is waterlogged. However, if there is consistent rainfall in your area, it can be hard to identify whether your garden has overwatering issues.
If you don’t see the more obvious visual signs of waterlogging, it doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t present. You can look for signs of the problem from within the soil and on the plant itself. Start by examining the leaves. Yellowing or decaying between the veins and some softening at the base or centre of the leaf are common symptoms of waterlogged soil.
You can also take note of the overall health of the plants. If some of them have stunted growth or are dying, these can be evidence of waterlogged soil. This can be very noticeable in large gardens where seeds that were planted at the same time in the same area are not growing at the same rate, and should be fairly obvious.
This can be a cause of new lawn growing in patches or new grass seeds failing to grow evenly.
What Does Soggy Soil Look Like?
Soggy soil will look dark and damp, and will hold its form when squeezed and compacted and will have a plastic consistency. If you squeeze darker soil in your hand, and it maintains that shape, your water is soggy.
To check if your soil is soggy, dig a small patch of it roughly twenty centimetres deep. Grab this patch and squeeze it with your hand, then observe how it reacts. Soggy soil will immediately mould into a compact figure when rolled. Furthermore, if you press this soil figure hard with your finger, it will stay compacted and sticky.
This soil has a plastic-like consistency and can quickly mould to the shape of your finger. Dry soil will immediately crumble when you press it hard. Soil with just the right amount of moisture will form into a ball but then crumbles if you continue to press it.
Soil can get soggy after watering, but it should not remain that way for an extended period. If your soil is soggy after watering it, you shouldn’t be concerned as this is perfectly normal. However, if the soil remains soggy after a few hours, it can indicate waterlogging.
How Long Should It Take for Soil to Dry?
Puddles in the garden caused by rain should be absorbed and drained after about a day or two. If after this time the water has still not been absorbed and drained, it can point to a drainage issue or even suggest the soil is waterlogged.
How long it takes to dry out soil may depend on the volume and frequency of watering. The soil in your garden should take about a week to dry out after normal watering. If the soil is still wet for more than a week, without outside contributing factors like rain or flooding, there might be a waterlogging or drainage problem.
Watering clay soil is especially difficult, as poor drainage makes it especially prone to waterlogging. You should wait until water has drained away before watering clay soil again. If water is pooling rather than sinking into soil, adjust the settings on your irrigation controller or tap timer.
Soil should not dry too slowly as the roots will be exposed to soggy conditions for a long time and will get damaged permanently.
How to Dry Out Soil Quickly
There are three key ways to dry out soil quickly:
1. Turn and aerate your soil – Turning and aerating your soil should be the first thing you do if you suspect you have waterlogging issues. Less severe waterlogging can be overcome by turning all the soil in your garden, which will disperse it through your garden bed. Turning the soil will also help breakdown areas of the soil that are compacted and affect your drainage.
2. Add compost to your soil – Adding compost to your soil is an easy way to reduce the density of water in your soil, but also increase your soil health. Natural compost will help break down areas where water is pooling and collection and distribute that water throughout your entire garden. Adding compost material is also very good for your soil, and will noticeably improve plant health. This is a great way to improve drainage in clay soil.
3. Mix in a speed-treating agent – Adding a chemical agent such as quicklime or hydrated lime is a fast and efficient way to help reduce the water in your soil. The lime will chemically react in the soil to help dry out overly wet soil. Although this is a chemical reaction, it’s created with natural lime products, meaning it’s completely safe for your plants.
How To Fix Waterlogged Soil
Waterlogged soil can be an inherent issue with the soil, or it could be caused by manmade factors such as overwatering. There are a few simple steps you can follow to help prevent waterlogging from happening in your soil in the future.
1. Stop overwatering your plants – Soggy soil can be caused by excessive watering or over-irrigation so giving the soil time to absorb the water and drain properly is essential. Make sure to water plants according to their needs, and ensure your sprinkler system is programmed appropriately year-round. If you’re receiving a lot of rainfall, consider a rain sensor for your sprinklers.
Some plant species need constant watering while others hold on to moisture longer. Research the specific water requirement of your plants. When planting, divide crop types and provide enough space between them. This strategy will allow you to water the crops according to their specific needs. For garden beds, switching from a standard sprinkler system to a drip irrigation system can help reduce overwatering, as drip irrigation emitters help regulate water flow much more easily.
2. Find out where the excess water is coming from – Survey your garden and adjacent areas. There may be groundwater flooding, overflowing drains, or leakage from irrigation pipes. Your water company will be able to help you fix any overflowing drains outside your garden.
3. Remove anything causing drainage issues – Picking up debris blocking the drains, especially after heavy rain or flooding, is another effective way to dry out soil quickly. You should also clear your soil surfaces of any pollutants and contaminants. Remove any damaged shoots from your plants. Prioritise your safety by using gloves and proper attire before cleaning up. If the soil is very wet, avoid walking on it as it may further compact it and prolong the problem.
4. Change the soil composition – The type of soil or soil structure may be why water logging is frequently occurring. To improve soil structure, mix organic matter like manure or compost, into your soil. Organic matter helps mineral particles bind together and create varied pore sizes in the soil despite the presence of water. In addition, evaluate the fertiliser you are using and check if it possesses chemicals that can damage your soil composition. Consider delivering fertiliser more precisely through fertigation rather than broadly.
5. Conduct soil cultivation methods – Soil cultivation refers to digging established soil beds that have become compacted over time. If the soil is too compact, this means that not enough pores are present for water to drain properly. You can dig the topsoil manually with gardening tools like a space. When necessary, use a rotavator (digging machine) to do the job. You must conduct minimal soil cultivation as too much cultivation can damage the soil structure.
6. Install a dedicated drainage system – If you have exhausted more natural ways of drying out garden soil and have not been successful, consider establishing a solid drainage system as an alternative. Drainage systems can be as simple as digging simple ditches about 90 cm (3 feet) feet with sloping sides to take away surface water. You can do this task manually or use a small controlled trenching machine. The more complicated drainage systems require you to install perforated plastic pipes within the trenches, covered with several centimetres of gravel.
Piped drainage installation is a more appropriate solution for severe drainage problems as it requires time and expertise. Unless you have the knowledge and experience of installing a piped drainage system, it is best to have this type of system designed and installed by a reputable specialist contractor or landscape professional.
Before installing a drainage system, you should research where all that excess water is allowed to go. Nearby ditches, streams, and deep holes are suitable drainage endpoints. Take note that several bylaws restrict where drainage water can flow. Excess water from gardens is usually not allowed to flow through storm drains or sewers.
Why Is My Garden Soil Not Absorbing Water?
The reason your garden soil is not absorbing water is often caused by overwatering, or having a soil that retains a lot of water such as clay soil. However, the shape and slope of your garden can also cause drainage issues, especially if your garden is near a body of water like a pond or river.
Heavy rainfall for a long time will bring a large amount of water into the soil, but this alone rarely causes permanently waterlogged soil. Your type of garden soil may naturally not be good at absorbing water. Compared to other types, heavy clay soils hold moisture longer. They also tend to compact firmly and seal the surface too tightly for water to go through. Thus, heavy clay soil like the black cotton kind is more vulnerable to waterlogging.
The topography, draining pattern, slope, and shape of your garden can lead to waterlogging as these factors can directly affect proper drainage. If your garden lies in flat lowland or depression, it is at greater risk of waterlogging. Aside from heavy rain, the water may come from the subsoil of upper regions and make its way to low-lying areas like your garden.
In addition, if your garden is close to other water bodies like rivers, lakes, and large ponds, there might be a constant flow of water from these bodies making its way through your garden. Inefficient or insufficient surface drainage can also cause water to stagnate over your garden.
There are times when waterlogging is not a natural occurrence but more human-induced. Incorrect irrigation can sometimes lead to waterlogging. You may require very frequent irrigation if your garden is in a dry area or if you’re experiencing drought. However, avoid over-irrigation and check the efficiency of your system. Ensure you’re making proper seasonal adjustments to your irrigation controller to account for rainfall.
Defective irrigation systems can also cause seepage and underground water leaks, so unexplained wet or muddy patches could indicate a leaky irrigation pipe or faulty solenoid valve.
Lastly, a proper drainage system must complement your irrigation setup. If you’re relying on natural drainage for your garden, clear any obstruction to the regular water outlets. Excess rain and irrigation water must flow freely through these water outlets.
Related Questions:
Should I Water if Soil Is Damp?
If the soil surface is visibly wet, you should wait before watering again to avoid waterlogging. It’s better to give your plants a lot of water in a couple of watering sessions, than a decent watering every day.
In some cases, the soil may look dry on the surface but is damp underneath. In this case, you can perform a watering readiness test on your plants. You can do this by sticking your forefinger into the soul up to your knuckles. If the soil is dry within the length of the hole you create, you can water it again.
How Do You Improve Soil Drainage?
One common way to improve soil drainage is by mixing organic matter like manure or compost into your soil. Other recommendations for better soil drainage include soil cultivation (digging the beds) and installing a dedicated drainage system.
Disclaimer:
This article is published for general informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Any action you take upon the information you find on this website is strictly at your own risk. Always ensure you have the right qualifications and certifications to carry out DIY work and never put your safety at risk. Hills Irrigation recommends consulting a professional for all electrical and plumbing work.
Vince Barbatano Vince
Vince is Managing Director of Hills Irrigation and is supported by Lisa in an administrative capacity. Andrew, Isaac and Megan look after the day to day needs of both online and shop customers. As Project Manager, Vince is also responsible for installation projects along with his team. It is his responsibility to work closely with clients to ensure that scope of work is understood and followed.
