I thought I had posted this question a few days ago but oh well...could not find it.
I had a soil test and it was really great - the soil is improving nicely however even though it has rained very often here this spring - I dig just two inches down - it is totally dry
What can I do to get the soil to hold more moisture and give the plants more insurance against a dry spell?
lost in the shuffle
I would collect all the leaves you can in the autumn (fall) and spread them thickly (say 2" - 4") over your garden. Over the winter and early spring, the worms should have a great time chomping them up into humus that will increase greatly the water retentivity of the soil. The leaves will also protect the ground, and, to a lesser extent, some of the plants, from all but the hardest of frosts.
(You'll have to look out for tree seedlings in the spring and early summer, depending on the type of leaves you use.)
cinemike is correct..........add as much organic material as you can. Compost or leaves are a great way to retain moisture . Shred the leaves first, if you don't have a shredder run them over several times with the lawn mower.
Paul
Ditto the advice above - shredded leaves are one of the most economical and abundant sources of organic matter available around here. (It's strange and sad how so many people BAG their leaves instead of simply running them over with the lawn mower and letting nature "do her thing" over the winter, or placing them on their perennial beds.)
Also check any local horse boarding or riding stables. They often have old, composted manure/bedding available free or at a low cost. Some will even haul it for you (but they tend to welcome repeat business from those who can haul it themselves ;o)
If its dry below 2 inches, it probably didn't rain as much as you thought or it rained so hard that the water ranoff. In that case, adding organic matter is essential and will improve infiltration (and retention). Good stuff, that organic matter!