help with watering dilemma

I recently have moved into an area that is mostly rock. I notice that when I water my garden the ground doesn't stay wet for long. Any suggestions on how I can get my ground to hold moisture? I have raised beds that are approx. 2 ft. deep as well as ground level flower beds. Thanks for your help in advance.

Amend, amend, amend your soil with compost. Mulch heavily around plants with more compost or whatever mulch you choose. What kind of soil did you put in the raised beds?

May I ask how you support the sides of your two foot high raised beds?

The soil we put in the raised beds was a 50/50 garden soil. The frame work is cherry wood.

Compost as in what kind? Needing ideas here, and when, fall or spring?

I use my own compost = everything I cut, chop, chip, pick, pull, kill, and have given to me by farmers, sawyers, mills, home depot torn bags, side of road chipped trees, and a million other sources. Wood in the form of sawdust, chips, or bark will hold moisture in the soil and all you need to do is add 1 part manure to 4 parts wood product and you mix it in the raised beds and you can water much less frequently. Oh and the worms will appear out of nowhere to vermicompost your soil. This bed I water once weekly and the soil is primarily clay, wood product, horse manure and compost.