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Soil drainage
Jason Cook
Posts: 139
Hi, I just built two raised beds. I bought some top soil and filled each bed with a mixture of the bought soil, existing soil from my garden and compost.
one bed is a lovely moist and loose tilth, the other is sodden and in big chunks of soil. I keep turning it over as the top dries but each time I do it's soaked underneath. Am I doing something wrong? The bought soil seems a decent sandy texture, it's ok in the bed right next to it, I'm stumped.
Any advise would be much appreciated.
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Posts
Where the beds laud on top of turf or heavily compacted soil or heavy clay? Only thing tht pops straight to mind is that one bed isn't draining as there is nowhere for it to drain to. If thats the case you'll need to howk all the soil out and give the base a good dig over.
Hmm I think you could be right jimmy. I didn't dig over the base of the one that isn't draining and did the other.
then again wouldn't the wet one be really wet at the bottom as it tries to drain and a drier at the top? It's approx 14 inches deep and I'd say the top inch or two dries and the rest is wet.
You'd think so, but the water is likely drawn up as the top dries and the soil tries to balance the moisture out. Sounds like you will need to dig it all out again.
Thanks for the advice though.
JC
personally have 9 inch beds. but on building dug down a further 10 inches.. at the bottom, (i have clay soil) forked the lot over and mixed in loads of organic stuff, then put the soil for the bed on top..
When spuds are in full growth, ive always found it hard to water too much, just a thought
I grew potatoes in that soil (well half of it) last year so plan to grow them in the other bed this year.
Its a pain, but 2 or 3 hours digging and hopefully it will be done.
I may regret saying that!