Ways of Improving Drainage of the Soil

It is also important for you to learn about ways of improving drainage of the soil when it comes to planning what plants you want to grow and there are several good reasons why you would want to know about the different ways of improving drainage of the soil. One of the most important reasons is because drainage of the soil is the basis of effective and healthy plant growth in your garden. Proper drainage also allows your plants to absorb the water and nutrients that they need and be a means for removing materials from the soil such as water and sediment so that they can be moved elsewhere.

1. Types of Ways

There are different ways of improving drainage of the soil. These include mechanical methods and biological methods. Both of them are beneficial. There are two types of soil – physical and chemical. Physical soil contains little nutrient. It is mainly composed of mineral salts and sand.

2. Using Mulch

One of the easiest ways of improving drainage of the soil around your home is by using mulch. Mulch can soak up moisture and allow the soil to drain. The first mulch you use may need to be broken down a bit first. It can be done this way by hand or with a rotary tool. Breaking down the mulch helps to open up the soil and work on drainage as well.

3. Using Organic Matter

Another one of the ways of improving drainage of the soil around your home is by using organic matter. There are two different types of materials that work well in this respect. One is waste material like leaves and grass clippings. These materials work well to improve your soil’s drainage. They also improve the look of your soil.

4. Placing Stone on Top of Soil

The other type of material that works well is stone. By placing stones on top of the soil, you can improve drainage. They work in two ways. First, they help to keep water away from the soil. Also, the stones create a surface on which the soil can drain easily. Both of these things will improve your soil’s drainage.

5. Using Good Quality Soil

Another one of the ways of improving drainage of the soil around your home is by making sure that the area around your home has good soil quality. In addition to improving the soil’s drainage, silt can cause major flooding problems. Silt can actually erode the ground’s topsoil and force it to compact. This can happen if there isn’t much in the way of soil erosion. You can prevent this from happening with proper grading of the land.

6. Using Fertilizers

Fertilizer is a method of increasing the fertility of the soil by replacing the lost water with new water. It should be added after taking care that there are no impurities in the soil. This method of adding fertilizer is very much necessary in a drought condition. When using this method of fertilizing the soil, it is always better to use slow release form of fertilizers. It will help in saving the time taken by the grower.

7. Introducing Plant Life and Fauna to Soil

The other ways of improving drainage of the soil include introducing plant life and fauna to the soil. For example, if there are certain plants that grow well together, then they should be intercropped in the soil. If there are certain animals that provide specific benefits for the plants, then they should also be included in the same. There are many more natural ways of improving drainage of the soil.

8. Aeration of Soil

Soil aeration is another method of improving the drainage of the soil. It is a process which makes the soil loose and porous in nature. It also enhances the amount of oxygen in the soil. This is an important method, which is also used in hydroponic systems.

9. Conclusion

There are many more ways of improving drainage of the soil around your home. All of these things can be used to improve the drainage in your soil. They all have their own specific ways of working. When you decide what you would like to do for your yard, you will have to decide which among the options would best work for the soil and the drainage that it currently has. Once you know what to do, you can use the methods and make them work to your advantage.