Expert: Long Island Gardener - 5/20/2008

Question
I live in South Carolina (29036) and I live on the lake.  I have some bulbs that I would like to plant on the end of our point but when I dug my trench, almost immediately it was half full of water.  Is this going to be a good location to plant my bulbs?  If so, what can I do to the soil so that it is not so soggy?

Answer
Only certain Iris and a few other blooming water plants thrive in constant moisture -- we call those 'hydrophillic' plants.  Gladiolus -- No.

Correcting this location will require more than mere amending on your part.  You will probably be advised by any on-location visit to RAISE the height of the bed, so that roots are not in constant contact with water.  Understand that roots need Oxygen to grow or just to survive.  Cutting them off kills cells, which opens up the plant to opportunistic anaerobic bacteria, which quickly kills the plant.  Unfortunate, but this is the situation.

Raised beds are quite common in parts of the country that get a lot of rain or don't have good drainage.  At least a foot of additional height is going to be necessary; more is better.  Make absolutely sure there is adequate drainage and air circulation to keep the roots happy.  The soil should be VERY well draining with a high percentage of sand and a rich loam/humus making up the balance.  Everything begins with a root system; when that's in trouble, nothing else goes right.

Sorry I can't give you an easier, simpler answer, but once you fix it, you'll have a lot of choices.  Good luck.