Proper soil drainage is absolutely essential for most types of plantings. In today’s blog article, we are going to talk about why soil drainage is important and what the benefits of it are. Keep in mind that there are some exceptions to the rule about soil drainage, and there are some plants that like having their “feet” wet, especially some bog plants. But most of your ornamental and edible plants benefit from proper soil drainage. 

Root Health 

Most plants need excess water to drain away. This is why we go to great lengths to ensure proper drainage. Most plants will suffer, and the roots can actually rot if water does not drain properly. This is especially true in the artificial environment of pots, where there is limited room for roots to grow. You almost always want your soil to be free draining so the roots get the water (and nutrients) they need, but excess water drains away. Rotting roots can severely inhibit plant growth if not actually killing them altogether. 

Root Air 

Roots need air, and specifically oxygen. Soil that does not drain, typically, also does not have the capacity to hold air which is absolutely necessary for the roots to access. This is one of the main reasons why soil needs to be freely draining. 

Soil Compaction 

There are several problems associated with soil compaction, which is one reason why soil may not drain properly. Not only do you want water to drain away, but you want all of the soil around the plant to have received water and nutrients before draining away. If the soil is too hard or dense, then water drains away before nourishing the plant. This can cause a multitude of problems including difficulty with leafing out, flowering, fruiting, or growing fruits that are stunted or damaged. 

To help with soil drainage, we often amend soil with the addition of sand, vermiculite, perlite, or other materials depending on what we are growing and where we are growing it. If you have any questions about your soil drainage, come and talk to us in Surrey at our flagship store.

Art Knapp has 15 locations across British Columbia and is well known as the go-to garden centre for everything garden-related. Art Knapp, himself, began the business in the 1940's, and now, 80 years later, you can find more than he ever dreamed of in our stores. Come and see us on King George Boulevard in Surrey. 

If you have any questions about this article or want to talk to us about gardening, just give us a call at (604) 596-9201.