How to Test for Soil Drainage

Starting a garden? Just moved into a new house, and want to learn just how good is your soil? Then do a drainage test? This piece of info can tell you a few things.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A shovel
• Patients
• A Bucket of water or hose

1. First you need to find the area you want to test. Are you gardening and want to test your soil before you start planting. Just curious how well your lawn drains? Pick an area most appropriate to your situation.

2. Now grab your shovel and dig a hole to 18" deep. This will go through the first 2 layers of topsoil.

3. Here you need to add water to half the hole, which is approximately 9" and let the water sit.

4. This is the longest part. Periodically check the hole, to see where the water lies.

5. If your soil drains in 3.5 hours or less, you have excellent drainage.
   
   If your soil drains in 3.5 - 24 hours, your soil is well drained.
   
   If your soil drains 24 - 72 hours, then you have moderate drainage.
   
   Lastly, if your soil drains 3 days or more, you have very poor soil drainage.

Tips & Warnings

• The drainage depends on the type of soil you have
• Not safe for small children as the hole is kinda deep

[ruf1950]

on 8/15/2009 Good work with testing for soil drainage. VERY important if you grow plants or a garden. 5*****