Need help with wet garden!

I honestly need help and did not know which area to post in. I am not totally new to gardening. I am Iowa girl that grew up helping her grandpa in his garden and kicking around on relatives farms. However, everyone that I could ask for advice is pretty much gone. So I am appealing to someone here to hopefully guide me.

I recently moved to a different part of my town. My part of the town has low elevation and I am probably 10 blocks from a river. Since it has low elevation my garden stays VERY wet almost all summer. I have a hard time getting it tilled becuase it stays wet so long. When we get a good rain the water just sits in my yard and garden. Most of my veggies start out relatively good if I plant them later, but then get drowned out get or root rot. I have some old timers in my neighborhood. One has told me to add sand, another said get a load of dirt. Yet another said get a load of dirt and sand. My soil is not the highly acclaimed "Iowa" soil. It is dark, but it is also composed of alot of clay. I suspect that further down it is sand because we are relatively close to a river. I plan on getting the soil tested by by local extention office, but this won't help me with my water problems.

I really don't want raised beds...I am kind of old fashioned and just want to till, plant, maintain and harvest. This will be the fouth year I have gardened here....each year gets a little better but it is frustrating.

My grandpa's garden never had this problem. He lived on the other side of town at a much higher eleveation. We didn't have to do anything to his soil that I remember. HIs garden was beautiful. Of course he worked it for 50 years. Grrrrr...why did I move to the south side of town!

Could someone help? I hope I have given enough information. Thank you in advance!!!!!

"Since it has low elevation my garden stays VERY wet almost all summer."

:"I really don't want raised beds."

Garsh, DeChantel, seems like you may have backed yourself into a corner here, kinda. Other than dig yourself some drainage furrows, nothing comes to mind. The sand might help, but you could just wind up with a sand / clay mix that stays wet. Depends how deep the clay goes.

Good luck.

DeChantal,

There is someone over on the vegetable forum, Calalily, that grows using raised areas, but not really raised beds with sides. You can see some pictures on this thread

http://davesgarden.com/community/forums/t/937836/#new

You could search for her username, because she's posted other messages with great pictures and descriptions of her methods. I don't remember if she posts here on the beginners' board.

David

Thank you tarheel2az and dreaves for your advice.

Tar-I think u are right I may have no option but to eventually have a drainage system. My next door neighbor told me just the other day that he added sand and top soil to his garden for about TEN years. He also told me that he has a simplified draining system throughout his whole yard and garden. (This neighbor's back yard and garden is only separated from mine with an alley). He stated that at one time his yard was just like mine. You are right maybe I could copy his drainage system. If not I am going to have to do a raised garden. My neighbor also told me that the elderly lady that lived here about 20 years ago had raised beds. So this may be what I have to do.

dreaves - I love Calalily's garden! I think you are right they are not quite raised. I think I am going to try this method this year. At least is not completely raised beds. It can't hurt to try it. Maybe it will work. If this type is not successful I have decided to do raised beds year after next.

I'm sorry it took so long for me to answer. I am so new to this that I could not find out how to find your replies. LOL I am slowly getting better at navigating the site!

Thank you!

If someone can plow or till for you, you can get them to do it so that the you wind up with wide furrows with the dirt from the furrows mounded high on the rows. You can get the same benefits as you would from raised beds, just without side and end boards.