Difficult soil.. prep?

[flowerbug]

On a side note, we got a LOT of rain last night and I had dug some of my holes out a bit more a few days ago.. This is what I found this AM -- obviously the drainage rates are different between these two holes that are about 5-6 feet apart. If you have any ideas on what the scum is on top of the first pic I'd love to know as it's not the first time I've seen it. Both holes are about the same depth -- the 2nd pic is perhaps about 6" shallower -- but the first image is dug to a depth of 36".. The water level is perhaps about 4-5" from the top of the hole. I had started to dig out the outline of the planter which is why you see various levels.

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View attachment 30887

the scum could just be foam from where the water formed as run off, like from a down spout/what comes off the roof or the pavement or just what is in the soil. salts, organic matter, soaps if you are using any greywater as irrigation water. hard to say without seeing the whole site/layout of the land there...

oh and the difference in levels may also just have to do with one hole being more in line with whatever drainage there might be (above or below the surface) - hmm, though i don't see any obvious erosion or signs of water flow there at the edges... ok, in the first pic at the left edge it does appear to be a bit of water flow erosion there...

nice to have some rain!

 

[RickF]

thanks.. I agree its nice to see the rain -- we had some nice lightning and thunder about a day ago.. Nice to hear that -- love that stuff! Our CA wild poppies ought to be quite the sight this year with all this rain! Luckily for me its only about a 20 minute drive from my place..

 

[flowerbug]

thanks.. I agree its nice to see the rain -- we had some nice lightning and thunder about a day ago.. Nice to hear that -- love that stuff! Our CA wild poppies ought to be quite the sight this year with all this rain! Luckily for me its only about a 20 minute drive from my place..

i love poppies! we have some of the red ones here that wander around the front (i try to keep them out of the gardens in the back). they grow in the mulch along the gardens and even in the limestone mulched areas. once in a while there will be a white or pink flowered one that shows up.

 

[RickF]

If I remember, I will snap a few pictures and post them here later. I don’t think they will be up before probably April sometime… They actually have a preserve out here for just the poppies. it’s quite spectacular in the right year

 

[SprigOfTheLivingDead]

Great read. I hadn't heard about the dynamite before, but that makes sense given the decade. Now irrigation specialists would say get a ditch witch and lay some drain pipe, which is essentially what was suggested with the loose soil drain lines.

I've also read success stories. Of prairie grasses being able to break that layer up over time, but it takes a few years