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Working wet soil - a no no
Garden Tips Newsletter - April 15, 2002

The beautiful weather spring has brought makes all gardeners anxious to get out and work in the garden. One note of caution though, try to wait until soils have dried out from recent rains before tilling up and working the soil. Tilling or working wet soil tends to compress soil particles thus making the soil more compact. With such compacted soils, air and water penetration become very difficult and can pose serious soil and drainage problems down the road. Tilling wet soil also tends to cause the soil to clump into clods that become very difficult to break up after they dry. Wait to work your soil until it is dry or dry enough such that when you pick it up it crumbles apart instead of making a wet, muddy ball. Overall, tilling or working wet soil can cause serious and lasting problems so give it time to dry out.

These archived newsletters were written by Dr. Lelia Scott Kelly. Kelly is a Horticulture Specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. Her office is in the North Mississippi Research & Extension Center, Verona.