- 1). Determine the type of soil you have in your garden, as this is important to the amount of help it may need. Your garden soil may be sandy. This is the type of soil that has the coarsest mineral particles. Soil is made up of mineral particles, organic matter and air spaces. Your soil may be more clay than sand. This type of soil holds water, but it can become water-logged. Dig gently around the roots zone before and after irrigation. The water should reach about 12 inches deep, after watering -- it tends to run off some soils..
- 2). Regularly dig organic matter into your soil. Aged animal manure, particularly cow and sheep manure, is very useful. Regularly add the organic matter in fairly small amounts over time. Organic matter acts like a big sponge, soaking up the water and enabling the plants to draw on this as they need it. Avoid over-use of fertilizer because this can upset the acid-alkaline balance of the soil.
- 3). Use leaf mulch compost. Alternatively, use coir or coco peat. These materials have been compressed 10 times and are capable of soaking up much water. Use mushroom compost, but only apply this sparingly. Some gardeners use composted bark or horticultural bark.
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