With all this massive rain we've had, it's become apparent that we have some low-lying areas in our yard and garden bed. What's the best way to raise the soil level? Can I add compost or should I try to get some good quality soil mix? Also, we've got some standing water in the pathways around our garden, I'm assuming from compacted soil. What's the best way to help drainage in these areas?
PS-Blackberry anyone?
Figure out where you want to send the water when it does rain before re leveling and filling in. Usually filling just moves the low spots around.
We've never had this problem in the past. If it would just go away that would be awesome! LOL Thanks for the tip, though.
I used to have 2 french drains on my garden lot to send the surplus rain to the street. The slotted drain pipe runs less than $10 at home depot. I took them up last year as I am trying to choose a spot to retain rain water due to the drought. My drains, and the slope of the lot, have made it very hard to keep plants on the high end alive. I am using permaculture technique called wales, to keep the water up high, so it soaks in and benefits the plants at the high end, which reduces the pooling at the low end. Since my pear tree has black leaf fungus again for the first time in years, I have GOT to address the drainage issue, and I can't raise the pear, but I can raise a wale above it. Paths sinking I just add more mulch
It's a bit too far to run the pipes to the street since we'd have to go under the house. This must be the 100 year flood. lol
are you at the bottom of a hill or cul de sac or your house sits lower than neighbors?
If so, and if you aren't up to a retaining wall, build an earthen wale or mound that is a couple of inches taller than where you would like the water to go.
more ideas can be found with search engines:
http://www.permies.com/t/6641/permaculture/Living-flood-zone
No, I just need to know what's the best thing to use to fill these low areas in my veggie garden. Compost? Soil/Compost mix? Just trying to figure that out.
Mix, soil and compost, like a fallow field ready to be planted later since its a veggie bed.
Thanks, Kitt. I just need to find some good soil to add to it.
Rocky's Stone in Mansfield has really nice garden soil for $45 a yard. I think it is 45% mushroom compost. my 6 yard pile has been rained on daily since it got here and it is still standing.
We got some stuff from them last year. We just need some dry weather now.
Today is looking good, before more rain. Pulled the weeds out of the very soft garden for the last couple of days (about 6 wheelbarrow loads).... now to move some dirt. My pear tree is still alive. going to put sand over by it to raise it a little
I know the feeling.
your weeds are short. I had 3 ft high wild carrot still blooming, a couple of weed grasses, and vetch, crown vetch with closed seed pods. Wanted them out before the seeds fell. Soft ground perfect for pulling, but I was not joking about 6 wheelbarrow loads of weeds. Your lilies are gorgeous
In said garden that needs some soil added in places, we harvested a bumper crop of weeds today. :) It's already misting out there and humid. More rain is definitely on the way.
We simply mow the middles, every 2 days it looks like. That red lily isnt sitting in a puddle, its where I scooped the sand away and water filled it. The water table is that close to the top right now. We burn, plants regenerate too fast..
I have aerated my areas & on the others with huge puddles I put down soil & manure so that mosquitoes don't breed. has worked out well...except weeds are growing instead of grass so I guess the rain killed what little I had ...hahahaha.
