What the heck is a well drained yet moist soil?
by Doug
(In his Garden)
Epimedium rubrum (yes, it likes well drained, yet moist soils but survives in dry soils)
Just what does this term really mean to the average gardener?
The secret here is twofold. The obvious first thing is that there is no standing water, the soil is “well drained”. Water is not allowed to stand around the crown of the plant or the plant will die.
This eliminates most heavy clay soils and gardeners who want to succeed with perennial plants will have to amend their drainage and soil structure or kill many perennials year after year.
This is not negotiable I’m afraid; plants are not like the machines we’re so used to programming. Plants want the soil conditions they are genetically programmed to accept or they’ll be outrageous and die.
The second point is the component of “moist”.
How can you have a soil that is moist but is well drained? Aren’t these mutually exclusive?
Not in nature they aren’t. If you have a soil that is high in organic matter, then you have a soil that holds moisture very well. The more organic matter it has, the more moisture it holds.
Excess moisture drains away quickly because of the “well-drained” nature of the soil. So, we have a soil that is high in organic matter holding lots of water but any excess water that would rot the crown is drained away.
This describes an organic woodland soil very closely and if you have a shade garden then the best thing you can do is start adding compost and ensure the soil is the best you can make. Add organic matter every year. And keep a mulch on top of the soil in climates like the northeast where slugs don't rule the garden.
Your plants are depending on you to make that moist but well drained soil.
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