How do I get soil to absorb water when it repels it?

Question

Certain areas of my lawn / garden wont absorb water, it just sits on top and slides away. How can I get these areas to absorb water?

Answer 1

If you have clay soil, you can add lime or Gypsum, plus sand to improve your soil's aeration and drainage. Also replenish nutrients & improve the soil by adding in organic matter. "Humus increases the water-holding capacity of the soil, lessens erosion, decreases the loss of valuable minerals by leaching, and makes the soil easier to cultivate".*

Gypsum doesn't change the pH, so it's good for breaking up the soil around acid-loving plants. Lime is good on compacted lawns with clay soil, loosens up the soil & making it less acidic.
Sulfur lowers pH .

Here's a site to get you started:
http://www.okstate.edu/ag/agedcm4h/pearl/hort/vegetble/f6007.htm *

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Soils can be hydrophobic (repel water) for several reasons. Adding organic matter and loosening these areas will help. Also, a very small amount of liquid soap solution (1 teaspoon in one gallon water) applied to the areas will help them to begin to absorb water. The soap solution will not harm plants if used in the recommended amounts.

Answer 3

If it's a very clay-type soil, add a little sand and some well-rotted compost or manure. Sand and organic matter can help increase drainage in your soil by creating larger air spaces between soil particles, giving the water some place to run to.

If you already have a good loamy-type soil, it may simply be compacted too heavily and just needs to be tilled up to loosen it.

Answer 4

If it just resists water, you could apply a surfactant, like some soap to your water. soap makes water 'wetter", so water is absorbed more easily. try a shot of dishsoap in a sprayer filled with water and see if it will absorb after application of the solution.

it could be that you need more organic material in your soil. that changes the soil structure and it might help it deal with water better. blend in some compost or sphagnum peat to your soil and try to water it in then.

Answer 5

Why not use desalination? Total rainfall is not necessarily sufficient for all living beings. It's more of a limiting factor if anything. As for conserving it we do it all the time. That's what dams do by preventing runoff that forms streams and rivers from flowing into the ocean before we use it for our needs. This has many positive and negative effects on the environment.

Answer 6

One part sand, two parts compost and maybe a touch of cow manure. I would mix that in your concerned areas. Dig it over good as maybe a rock under top of soil.

Answer 7

put about one quarter inch of compos over the area then get a product by Medina called Medina Plus and follow directions

Answer 8

Try having your lawn aerated if it hasn't been within the past year or so.