elaine mccarthy asked 15 years ago
We have a large garden with heavy marl soil that water sits on after rain. In dry weather in summer it dries and cracks. Is it worth while trying to drain this?. The soil can be dark and sticky and is difficult to dig. Last spring I tried to grow vegetables and fruit bushes in a raised bed. This bed became waterlogged also. I had dug in manure and compost. Should I try again with a higher bed? I also want to grow a hedge, something that likes its feet in water.
Gerry Daly Staff answered 7 years ago
It is difficult to drain as water takes long time to percolate through it but draiange does healp and needs to be set close together, with land drains even two or three metres apart.You can also try to change the structure of the soil with large amounts of organic material, 5 kilos and more per square metre, such as manure, mushroom compost, straw etc. Or you can pile up organic material and grow on top of the heavy land, in beds, either with support sides or not.
On the plus side, these clay soils are usually very fertile and do not dry out in summer, once you learn how to handle them, and timing of operations is very important because the soil gives uyou a narrow window between too wet and too dry.
Try hornbeam and/or holly to grow in heavy soil.
