Raised bed draining issue

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samedii Waxhaw, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 26, 2010

I planted veggies this year in three 3x6 raised beds. (The beds are made from untreated 1x12 boards.) The soil mixture I used was a 50/50 topsoil and compost mixture. I transplanted my seedlings into the beds and I set up an array of soaker hoses in the beds. After a lot of research I determined that I needed to run my soaker hoses three times a week at about 2 hours at a time.

The problem that I am having with this is that instead of the water spreading out from the soaker hoses, it seems to pretty much go straight down through the soil to the bottom of the bed. After less than half an hour I have water almost pooling up around the bottom of my beds and the only soild that appears to be wet is the soil that the soaker hoses are sitting on.

As a stop gap measure I anchored the soaker hoses so that they ran right next to the stems of my seedlings. Should I simply irrigate for 20 minutes or so every day or is there a better solution for this? I had planned on mulching the beds but I decided to hold off until I get this irrigation issue fixed.

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 26, 2010

samdii - Hi there - I was in Mineral Springs on Saturday for the Queens Cup races - did you go?

As to your problem - sounds as though your soil mix is too porous. I had that problem when I lived in South Florida because it was so sandy. Try mixing what you have with some of your native soil - which if it's like mine is clay. The clay will help hold the moisture in the mix.

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samedii Waxhaw, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 26, 2010

HI, thanks for the reply!

We have only been here since November so I still don't know much about local events. Is the Queens Cup a horse race? If so, I am sorry that I missed it. That would have been a neat thing to do.

My native soil does, indeed, have a high clay content. Should I dig my plants up, make the amendment, and then replant?

I was a little late on planting so they've only been in there for about a week. Is it still safe to move them around?

Thanks again!

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HoneybeeNC Charlotte, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 26, 2010

samedii - yes the Queens Cup is a horse race. This was the first time I had attended, and I can't wait to go back next year. It's held on the last Saturday of April each year. You can look them up online.

I would be loathe to disturb your plants. Perhaps you could dig up some native soil from elsewhere and incorporate it with what you have in your beds AROUND the plants already there. This way the young plants' roots will be able to work their way into the new soil mix, which in turn, should hold more water.

Good luck!

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samedii Waxhaw, NC(Zone 7b) Apr 26, 2010

I will for sure try adding some native soil to my beds, then. Thanks for the advice!

-Sam

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