• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Edible Learning Lab
  • Home
  • Start

    Essential Reading

    Program Overview

    The broad strokes of the Edible Learning Lab Program.

    Teachers Primer

    A guide to help teachers visualize their edible education program.

    Farmers Primer

    Learn how to turn your farm into an edible classroom.

    Organizations Primer

    Discover how you can bring edible education into your community.

    Grants & Funding

    There are numerous grants and funding sources to get you started.

    Equipment Recommendations

    Buy the same equipment we use in our flagship Lab.

    The Legal Stuff

    Privacy Policy

    Terms and Conditions

  • Lessons

    Advanced Lesson Search

    Beginner Lessons

    The Beginner Lessons form the foundation with a sound overview of the core concepts of food production.

    Intermediate Lessons

    The Intermediate Lessons allow students to experiment and prove the core concepts.

    Advanced Lessons

    The Advanced Lessons give students an opportunity to apply what they've learned in the previous levels.

    Lessons By Station

    Seed Starting Curriculum

    Soil Management Curriculum

    Vermiculture Curriculum

    Hydroponics Curriculum

    Composting Curriculum

    Water Management Curriculum

    Seed Saving Curriculum

    Teaching Kitchen Curriculum

  • Blog

    Our Top Posts

    What is a Food Desert?

    Gain insight into food deserts, the communities they impact, and how edible education may offer a solution.

    The Difference Between Rainwater and Tap Water

    Not all water is created equal especially when we're talking about the health and development of plants and people.

    Why Rain is Important

    Rain or the lack of an adequate supply can have profound effects on farming and the communities that rely on the harvest.

    Anatomy of a Seed

    It all begins with a seed and this article dives deep into the 5 primary parts of the seed that make it all possible.

The Effects of Poor Drainage

Jan 5 by Dave Creech 1 Comment

poor drainage

The root systems of the plants in our gardens are very sensitive to environmental conditions. Heat, moisture, aeration, soil composition and drainage all have a dramatic effect on the health and development of our plants. A garden bed with poor drainage can create an environment that is simply impossible to grow in. It is vitally important to the health of the soil and the health of the plant’s root system that proper drainage be maintained in our planter beds.

Drainage is, simply put, the process by which water moves through the soil. When watering, we want a certain amount of water to move completely through the soil and wash out. For this reason it is important that our raised planters be designed to allow water to drain from the soil. Our raised planters at the Edible Learning Lab are specifically designed with a waterproof membrane and a sloped floor to facilitate proper drainage.

Plant roots need to breathe. Without proper drainage our soil will become waterlogged causing air pockets in the soil to fill with liquid and suffocate our root systems by restricting the availability of gaseous oxygen, essential for healthy soil microbe populations and normal root development. As available oxygen decreases, carbon dioxide in the soil will increase creating an unbalanced microenvironment promoting the growth of bad bacteria.

This new low oxygen, high carbon dioxide environment leaves our plants exposed to root rot, fungus and bacterial problems. Poorly drained soils also limit nutrient bioavailability by slowing or ceasing the decomposition of organic material. Root development can be stunted and the overall health and development of the plant will be restricted.

The rate at which water filters through the soil has a lot to do with soil composition. For a successful garden our soil should have enough loamy organic material to resist compaction and create air pockets but have enough mineral and clay to have some structure to it. Without a good compositional balance we will end up with highly compacted, poor draining soil or overly loose, quick draining soil – neither are good for growing.

What to do

If your soil seems to be draining too fast or too slow, it will be important to do some work to improve your soil composition. Any amendments added to existing soil need to be chosen very carefully. It is important to create a balanced medium in the planter, provide good water drainage and use an amendment that will allow for air space.

Balanced Soil: Ideal soil consists of 25% air, 50% solid matter and 25% water.

Clay Soil: The addition of sharp sand and some form of organic matter is recommended when amending clay soils. Every 6 inches of clay soil needs 3 to 4 inches of organic matter. Adding gypsum (calcium sulfate) at the rate of 50-100 lbs/1000 ft2 may also improve internal drainage of clay-based soils. Gypsum provides a soil with the abundance of calcium ions which subsequently lowers the concentration of sodium.

Sand or Loamy Soil: If amending a sandy or loamy soil, add organic matter only. Every 6 inches of sandy or loamy soil needs 1 to 2 inches of organic matter.

Filed Under: Teach the Teacher Tagged With: clay, drainage, Raised Planter Station, sand, soil, soil amendments

About Dave Creech

I am a Husband, Foodie and Entrepreneur striving to live healthier and happier through better food and outdoor living. I started my Urban Garden in early 2013 in an effort to grow as much of my own food as possible. I am continually learning to live more simply, waste less, be more efficient and generally build a better skill set.

Reader Interactions

Trackbacks

  1. Seedling Care - Modern Steader says:
    Jun 10 at 8:09 am

    […] plants of water and they will wilt and root development will be stunted.  Overwatering plants lead to root rot and possible […]

    Log in to Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Primary Sidebar

Search All Lessons

Our Lessons are organized into three levels. With our Detailed Search, you can drill down to the Lessons you need most.

Filter by Lesson Number, format, keyword, or rating.

  • Search Beginner Lessons
  • Search Intermediate Lessons
  • Search Advanced Lessons

© 2022 Edible Learning Lab | Site by Vestor Logic