Organic material, like compost, is the best way to improve soil for drainage. If your soil is very rich in clay and difficult to work, consider creating raised beds.
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.
If your entire garden suffers from waterlogging, ongoing soil improvement is the best way to bring long-term results. Start by digging in plenty of organic material which will help break up heavy clay soils. If possible, do this when the soil is relatively dry to avoid compacting it even further.
To improve the structure of your soil and enhance drainage, you can incorporate amendments such as compost, peat moss, or organic matter. These materials help break up compacted soil and create channels for water to infiltrate and drain away.
Use Absorbent Materials: Apply materials like sand or gypsum to help absorb excess moisture and improve soil drainage.
Add organic matter
Forking in some well-rotted farmyard manure or garden compost to wet soil will improve its drainage. A coarse organic matter is ideal, as this will help to create the air pockets needed to boost drainage. Find out more about the types of organic matter to use in the garden.
THE SOLUTION: LIME!
of either quicklime or hydrated lime, dries up wet soil quickly, so that it can be compacted readily, forming a working table that will resist further wetting as well--you can get back to work!
Heavy, compacted soils, such as clay, can retain too much water, leading to poor drainage and waterlogged plant roots. Buying bulk sand and adding it to your soil helps create larger pore spaces, allowing water to drain more efficiently.
Apply a liquid fertiliser such as PowerFeed All Purpose including Natives as this will help to feed both the plants and the soil. Being a liquid it goes to work immediately to promote strong healthy growth. It also helps to improve the soil structure, improving nutrient uptake by plants.
Add Water
For old and dry soil that isn't compacted, add water to a pot of soil and let it drain out from the bottom.
Mix in fly ash.
The drying effect of fly ash in wet soil occurs rapidly, allowing you to quickly proceed with construction activities. Fly ash also makes soil more resistant to water infiltration." All you have to do is till up the wet soil and mix in the fly ash to physically soak up the water.
Organic amendments like compost, manure, and peat moss have high water-holding capacity, acting as sponges that absorb and slowly release moisture to plant roots. Inorganic additives such as vermiculite and perlite create reservoirs within the soil, absorbing and holding water for plant uptake.
Many people choose fill sand because it is attractive and affordable. It's very useful for in wet areas that need help dealing with drainage problems. Fill sand is recommended if your project requires a backfill material.
Mulch acts as a blanket over your soil that cuts down on erosion and protects plant roots from temperature changes. Adding mulch over top of bare soil and around other plants reduces runoff by absorbing water – helping to cut water costs and keep pollutants out of our waterways!
Creating "Well Drained" Soil In Clay
Mix the native clay half and half with coarse sand or crusher fines. (DON'T use fine sand; this will create concrete.) If planting hardy garden perennials you should add compost and Yum Yum Mix to the soil (1/3 to 2/3 ratio) before mixing the soil with the sand.
Lime Stabilization – This is one of the most cost-effective stabilization options. Typically, 5% to 10% lime is spread and tilled into the soil to “firm” up the ground. The lime reacts with the water in the soil to produce cementitious compounds making the soil firm and water resistant.
A ground cover of mulch or low growing plants will reduce evaporation from the top soil as well as providing protection against erosion. Wind breaks reduce evaporation losses and retain soil moisture up to 100 metres away.
To re-wet, repeatedly sprinkle the surface lightly, making sure there is no run off. Covering the surface with a mulch such as straw, leaves, wood chips, or compost will also help. Eventually the soil will become moist enough to break up. A gentle, steady rain will also do the trick.
Garden Forks and Rakes
Digging forks or garden forks are the best digging tools for breaking up rocky or hard soil. With their long, sharp-edged tines, these gardening tools are also good for aerating soil and digging up potatoes or other root vegetables. Ground rakes or garden rakes have several short, metal tines.