Good soil drainage is vital to growing a healthy garden. You may be surprised to learn that once water infiltrates soil, not only does it travel through the soil vertically, drawn downwards by gravity, but percolates horizontally, much like the way the water moves through a sponge. How quickly the water moves and how widely it spreads out are largely determined by soil texture.
Discover how water moves through various soil textures and more about soil health at Managing Soil Tilth: Texture, Structure and Pore Space by Colorado Master Gardener Program
To perform a soil texture ribbon test, watch How to Test Your Soil Texture by Central West Local Land Services.
To learn how to perform a soil drainage test, read DIY Soil Drainage Perk Test for Your Garden by Today’s Homeowner with Danny Lipford
