Gardening Technique Unit Screen//v.1

Depth of soil is important for the growth of plants. Shallow soil does not provide as much root space as deep soil and has less water storage capacity. It dries out rapidly. On flat land it is also easy to overwater, since the water has no place to drain. Soil depth can be determined by digging a hole. A lawn can be grown in 6 inches of soil, but trees need from 1½ to 4 feet. Sometimes the underlayer is not bedrock but a rocklike layer called hardpan, which can only be penetrated with difficulty. (For more information about hardpan, see Hardpan.)

Living with shallow soil: If your garden is already planted, watch the amount of water you apply. You may need to water more frequently than if the soil were deeper, but to apply less at each watering. Guy trees to keep them from blowing over. (For more information about guying, see Staking and Guying.)

Improving shallow soil: In areas that are not yet planted, you have 2 options. One is to choose shallow-rooted plants, such as lawns and annuals. A second option is to deepen the soil in raised planting beds. But avoid planting large trees, even in raised beds. Resist the temptation to deepen the soil by digging into the underlayer. Drainage would be nonexistent in these holes, so maintenance would be very difficult.

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