Since we have had some rain in the past few days, it struck me that knowing when to get back out in the garden after a rainy period might not be as obvious to others as it is to me. (That’s the farm girl talking – waiting for things to dry out after a rain is second nature.)

But how do you know when to get back out there? Does it really matter? Why?

There are two things to think about. First, is it so muddy that I can’t effectively get anything done? Second, is the soil so wet that I will damage it by working it?

I’m guessing that most of you can answer the first question fairly effectively. While weeds do pull very easily after a rain, no one likes to be up to their ankles in mud.

The second question is a bit more challenging. Especially if you have a clay soil, it is very important not to start working it too soon after a rain. By “working the soil” I am primarily refering to tilling or cultivating. Even using a shovel can cause problems for soil that is too wet. The main reason to avoid tilling or cultivating when the soil is still wet, you can cause compaction problems or pulverize the soil. This can cause pretty severe problems, especially once the soil gets hot and dry.

To determine if your soil is to wet, do a “ball” test. Scoop up a handful of soil and form it into a ball. If it is sticky and maintains its shape, it is still too wet. If it gently crumbles, then it is ready to work again. Below are two different soil samples.

This soil is moist, but still crumbly.

This soil was from one of the raised beds in the demo garden. It has a higher organic matter content and the raised beds help with drainage to dry the soil out more quickly.

This soil is still too wet.

This soil near the raspberries has a higher clay content, so the soil takes longer to dry out.