Things You'll Need:
- water
- measuring rod
- optional level
- Shovel or post-hole digger
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Step 1
This is called a percolation test to see how quickly water will percolate, or drain into your soil.
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Step 2
Dig a hole in several locations in your garden. The hole should be about 18" deep and at least 6" wide. Then set a measuring stick or rod into the hole from bottom to top.
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Step 3
Water your hole the day before testing and wait until all water has drained away. Then fill the hole with water to the top again. You can use a level to make sure the top of the hole is even all the way around.
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Step 4
Start measuring your water level after an hour. Check and measure on a regular basis to see how fast the water is being absorbed.
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Step 5
*Less than a half inch in an hour means you have poor-draining soil.
*One half to one inch per hour is slow but acceptable.
*If it drains one to four inches in an hour you should be able to grow most plants well.
*If it drains faster than four inches in an hour you have fast drainage. -
Step 6
Another version:
*If water drains out of the hole within 3 hours, you have fast drainage.
*4 - 6 hours is ideal.
*more than 8 hours is slow draining soil. -
Step 7
Often slow draining soil contains a lot of clay. Overly fast drainage is frequently caused by too much sand in the soil. You can amend your soil before planting to help balance the needs of the plants you intend to plant in that area. The reason you should dig multiple holes is that different parts of a landscape may have different soils and drainage properties.
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Step 8
Knowing how your soil drains is one more way to insure success in your garden.
Comments
SeventhSibling said
on 5/29/2009 I've heard about this test but did not know how it was done. Thanks for letting us know.
DUSTYMILLS said
on 10/13/2008 Every gardener should print this and hang it in their garden shed.....it's one of those boring but important tests to ensure our plants grow healthy. A good article.