How To Dry Out Dirt | 3 Professional Ways Revealed

Do you know how to dry out dirt? Drying out has been considered one of the common problems as it leads to many diseases or pests. Sometimes it becomes a significant problem for plants. Drying out of soil can cause by various reasons like dehydration, dry weather, and lack of rain. By applying different methods (mulching, using mushroom compost or animal manure), you can deal with it. Except these, you can aerate the soil, use organic dry amendments, or hydrated lime to dry out dirt as they are extensively useful to dry out the land.

In this context, we will discuss the simplest solutions in detail. So read our article on Learn 3 Best Solutions of How To Dry Out Dirt! to have explicit knowledge.

How To Dry Out Dirt?

To dry out a huge amount of dirt, aerate the soil properly then add organic dry amendments. But should bear in mind that its pH value won’t change.

Learn 3 Best Solutions of How To Dry Out Dirt

So in this section, we will share some techniques of how to dry out dirt. Here we will mention three solutions-

1. Use organic dry amendments
2. Hydrated lime
3. Aerate the soil

Let’s explore the ins and outs of those solutions.

Solution#1. Use organic dry amendments

Amendments use for capturing the moisture. They work as fertilizer. They also help to speed up the growth of the plants.

Tools or things required for this step – Rake, spade or shovel, fine pea gravel.

By following the steps, you can apply dry amendments.

• At first, remove all the leaves, debris, and old mulch. Because they can block the sun-ray and air so that soil remains wet for a longer time. Sometimes this debris makes the clay waterlog.
• Now, wait a while (around 8-12 hours) to dry out the dirt. But it does not get to dry completely. This process allows the sunlight and air to undergo the soil, and it helps to enhance the nature of the ground and therefore the moisture puts weight to the soil, so you can work comfortably.
• If you don’t have much time, then you can start work. But you have to use the elbow grease in a large amount.
• You need to pour around 5.1 to 7.6 cm of gravel on the surface. Now spread fine pea gravel. There are different sizes of pea gravel available in the market. But if you cannot find gravel, then go with sand.
• Now you can use a 2 to 3 inches layer of amendments according to your preference. Dig some nutrient materials, compost, and topsoil over the gravel. And distribute them properly.
• It’s time to mix up the two-layer of dry amendments into your soil accurately.
• And whenever you put some more sand or gravel to the dirt, you need to increase the space occupied by other non-nutritive elements.
• Mix up all the amendments with a spade. You should mix carefully. No clusters should remain in the mixture.

Solution#2. Hydrated lime

Various kinds of lime available in the store. But for this step, you need to choose the hydrated or quicklime. Don’t use standard agricultural lime as it is accurately pulverized limestone. So it does not have effectiveness on drying amendments.

Tools or things required for this step – Spade, shovel, mask, gloves, and roller.

The steps of this solution have described below.

• Quicklime has recognized as calcium oxide, and hydrated lime has known as calcium hydroxide. Between these two items, quicklime works faster.
• Use multiple-layered, thick gloves, and a mask for protection. Because both limes lead to burn or irritation.
• By using a spade, put around 2 inches (5.1 cm) of lime on the soil. Distribute it properly.
• Now, wait for 1 to 2 hours to set the lime before continuing the further work. This period, lime evaporates the extra water. And it is the primary benefit of this process.
• Mix the lime at least up to 6 inches into the soil by using a rake. Try to go as much as more in-depth for better results.
• Make the soil compacted. It helps to grasp the lime. And that’s why dirt gets dry even in the rainy reason.

Solution#3. Aerate the soil

By aerating the ground, you can also dry out dirt. The perfect time for aeration is the growing season of the plants. Aeration helps to reduce the compaction of the soil.

Tools required for this step – Aerating tools (plug or pike aerator), shovel.

Steps to follow –

• First, clean the soil surface, remove all the unwanted weeds, old mulch, debris, or any rock/stone. It helps to pass the air and sunlight freely.
• Wait for some time to dry out the water naturally. You should wait to disappear the excessive moisture; otherwise, it will create pooling. You have to ensure proper sunlight and better air circulation for drying out.
• Now it is time for aeration. If your lawn is small-sized than you can use the regular aerator to make your work done. In case you have a large yard, then go for the motorized aerator.
• Use your aerating tool to break the soil surface. If you don’t have an aerating machine, you can use a rake.
• After aerating, to make your aerated soil will workable, keep the ground for a few days.
• Remove the large clumps. It helps to improve its ability to drain entirely.

Warning

• Wear long-sleeved work clothes.
• While working with lime, try to be careful and don’t touch uncovered body parts.
• You should bear in mind that the addition of lime to your soil, it will increase the pH level. It makes it more alkaline, and it harms the growing conditions.

Final Words

Too much moisture can be harmful to your plants. So you have to know the methods of how to dry out dirt. We hope our post “Learn 3 Best Solutions of How To Dry Out Dirt!” helps you to provide clear guidance.

So we think after reading this entire article, we think you get your answer on how to dry out dirt. By applying any one of the above methods, you can solve your issue.