Topsoil problem

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mmclane Fenton, MO May 24, 2007

I recently got some topsoil for an area that had washed away alot of the dirt needed to plant some new flowers. However, the topsoil seems to be "dry" and is having difficulty absorbing water?!? It looked different than the topsoil that you get in bags (which is often dark, almost moist, and soaks up water easily). This topsoil is almost a sand-like color and is pooling the water on top! Did I get a bad batch of topsoil and is there any way to remedy this? Unfortunately, I got a whole truckload of this and it will be hard to get all of it out of the flower bed. Help!

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Marshmellow Fitchburg, MA May 24, 2007

The situation you're referring to is called SOIL HYDROPHOBICITY. That is, once the soil reaches a certain critical dry point it will repel water and, don't underestimate just how much. I have a section of my soil that suffers from it and even after a week of insane rain that section just under the surface was still dry as dust. Peat moss also suffers from hydrophobicity and you should never let areas you used it dry and apply it when not moistened.

You should use a surfactant on the area, and it will probably require multiple applications. The cheapest surfactant is liquid soap. Add a lot of organic matter, and I've been taking care of mine slowly by digging holes and filling it with good dirt & compost. The worms have been slowly improving the area. I hope others chime in, but once you have it moistened you can't let it dry until the situation resolved or, do some research on SOIL HYDROPHOBICITY and surfactants. Some of the causes is working with the soil when it's wet. Sites will warn about working soil that's wet and won't say why, that's one of the outcomes. Fortunately the more you get water into the soil past it's hydrophobicity the less hydrophobicity it will exhibit. You've got to get water repeatedly absorbed into it somehow.

This site explains it pretty well.
http://www.soil.ncsu.edu/publications/Soilfacts/AG-439-25/


This message was edited May 24, 2007 1:53 PM

This message was edited May 24, 2007 3:09 PM

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Marylyn_TX Houston, TX(Zone 9a) May 26, 2007

You can buy bags of compost at any nursery. There are better and not-quite-as-good composts, but for your purposes, any ol' compost will do. The bags may either say "compost" or "pick-your-animal manure." Just dump it on and mix it up a bit with the topsoil. It will add organic matter to your soil and help it absorb the water. It also makes worms happy, which is always a good thing.

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