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.
There is no truly quick fix to wet, soggy soil. To help speed the process, break up and turn the soil to expose more of the water to the air. Mix in some dry compost or other organic material.
If it's not too bad, just place the pot on a slope, with a drainage hole at the lowest point. Stick a 3--4'' piece of a rolled paper towel partway into that hole and the rest lying on the surface. This will pull out more water. A plant taken out of its pot will dry much faster.
The good news is that most plants will bounce back between 7-14 days if they're given proper care (which includes rehydration). If this isn't possible because major damage was done or little healthy root system exists then expect about 2 weeks until improvement can be seen.
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.
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.
To collect and manage extra water, think about adding additional drainage systems, like rain gardens or French drains. To manage Stormwater and lessen the effects of heavy rains on the environment, adding green infrastructure options like permeable pavement or planted swales could be a great solution.
One of the primary advantages of incorporating sand into your garden soil is its ability to improve drainage.
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.
Use Absorbent Materials: Apply materials like sand or gypsum to help absorb excess moisture and improve soil drainage.
hydrated lime are both highly effective in drying wet clay and silt soils. Highway contractors have found that lime expedites construction in rainy weather, due to its drying action and the formation of a firm working table. Building contractors have been discovering the same thing.
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.
Lime, also known as calcium oxide, is a naturally occurring desiccant, which means it has the ability to absorb moisture from the air. Lime can absorb moisture through a chemical process called adsorption, which involves the attraction and adhesion of water molecules to the surface of the lime particles.
For the purpose of drying out saturated soil, your best bet will be to use either quicklime or hydrated lime. Both of these products are available at most major gardening stores and home improvement centers.
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.
Use soil wetting products and organic matter
These products, available in granular, liquid concentrate or hose-on form, can dramatically improve water penetration. “Soil wetting agents help by penetrating through the waxy layer, enabling water to be absorbed throughout the soil,” she explains.
They found that soil drying can be accomplished in approximately 20 minutes in a microwave oven and drying times varied with soil type and sample size.
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.
The soil sample dried in a controlled temperature of 105∘C - 110∘C. For organic soils, the temperature is about 60∘C. In routine laboratory practice, samples are dried for 24 hours in the oven at a controlled temperature. For sandy soils, complete drying can be achieved in 4 to 6 hours.