Soil Problem No. 2: Soil is too wet.
Common to: clay soils, low-lying areas, areas with a high water table
Amendments to add: compost, sand, 78M pea gravel
Soggy, compacted ground needs an amendment to add space between soil particles and allow better drainage. An effective way to combat this is to incorporate gravel or sand into the soil—not simply adding it as a drainage layer below the topsoil. The addition of these amendments will also require you to add organic materials to boost nutrients. Avoid adding sand to clay soils, as the mixture can set up like concrete. According to the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension, clay soils should generally be amended with 1 cubic yard of amendment (such as gravel or compost) per 100 square feet. The amendment rate for non-clay soils will vary depending on soil type and the amendment you choose to use.
In addition to using amendments, build raised beds to encourage crop areas to drain faster. Plant crops in areas away from natural water pathways. Do not work soil, particularly dense clay soil, when it’s wet, as this will only add to your soil-compaction problems.