Simple three-step soil drainage test
Have you heard of the garden philosophy, “Right plant, right place?”
Every plant, including peonies, have their ideal set of requirements in order to thrive.
Read below for a focus on one of those requirements, soil drainage.
Whatever your growing, from peonies to vegetables to annual flowers, soil is one of the most important factors to consider.
Peonies, along with many other perennials and annuals can tolerate less than ideal soil conditions, but in order to thrive you’ll want to give your plants a better environment.
When it comes to peonies, you especially want your soil to drain well. Peonies do not like to sit in wet soil and roots can easily rot if that’s the case.
So this simple percolation test from the American Peony Society can help you get to know your soil drainage situation.
Dig a hole at least 18 inches deep.
Fill it with water enough times that the surrounding soil is well wetted.
Then refill it and time how long it takes for the water to get away.
A half hour or less suggests an excessively droughty site. Youd need to take the into account when considering a watering schedule and fertilizer plans.
Two to twelve or more hours may work very well with an ordinary calendar of rainfall. This is the ideal scenario.
However, if water remains in the hole much longer, you have a chronic wet situation. Install mechanical drains to change the situation or select another site for your peonies.
This doesn’t just work for peonies, it’s a great test to learn the soil drainage properties for whatever you’d like to grow, especially when you are planting a new garden.
When you learn the soil’s drainage profile you can best select plants that will naturally thrive in your specific location. It all goes back to the age-old gardening philosophy, “Right plant, right place.”
Of course drainage is just one characteristic of good soil. Composition and fertility are two more topics that we’ll get to throughout this upcoming season.
The test above was featured in an article written by Don Hollingsworth for the american Peony Society. Read the full article by clicking the button below.