When is soil too wet to work

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Compacted soil makes it challenging for plant roots to move through the ground. Damages caused by digging wet soil only show after it dries completely. Damaged soil forms tight clumps that become rock-hard and almost impossible to break. Furthermore, waterlogging might also become an issue with compacted soil. Damages of working wet soil last a long time and can become perpetual.

Once compacted, the soil will take many years to rebuild a healthy soil structure. I recently wrote a thorough guide to creating the perfect soil. Soil is made from three main components , which are clay, sand, and silt. The ideal soil sometimes referred to as loam has equal amounts of all three, making it a fertile soil that drains effectively and is easy to dig.

Each type of soil has its advantages and disadvantages, and each type handles wet conditions differently. Sandy soils have substantial particles with large gaps between them. These spaces allow water and nutrients to drain away freely, making sandy soils less fertile than heavier soils.

Sandy soils dry very quickly as well, so if there is rainfall, you will have to wait less long to dig than with other soil types. Clay and silt soils are much heavier and have smaller particles. This means that water is less likely to drain away quickly, and the soil will become saturated for longer.

I want to get outside and start gardening. However, my neighbor says the soil is too wet and I should wait. Why should I wait, and how can I tell when the soil is ready? Many gardeners are getting an itch to get out into the garden and start planting now that the weather is finally warming. However, they should resist the urge while the soil is still wet.

Most gardeners will find that many of their garden areas are still soggy from snow melt and rain, making soil too wet to work. Your garden will thank you for resisting the urge to plow ahead. If wet soil is "worked" plowed, tilled, spaded it can become badly compacted, and the negative effects can last for many years. Once compacted, it will take a long time to rebuild a healthy soil structure. By Keyword By topic By state.

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