![]() ![]() Typically, however, the water-level changes are several feet or less. Changes can be large enough to make a well flow at land surface, or to cause a well to go dry. The most common groundwater-level response to an earthquake is a water-level oscillation. It is of particular interest to this article because groundwater levels in our local area were affected. The event is among the largest earthquakes recorded in the eastern United States and was known for damaging the Washington monument. On August 23, 2011, a 5.8 magnitude earthquake occurred at a depth of about 3.7 miles beneath the town of Mineral, Virginia, located approximately 27 miles east of Charlottesville. Some sites, such as my local area, have natural springs and a high groundwater level. ![]() Perhaps your property is wet because it has a high-water table. If drainage is much faster, your soil is probably high in sand if drainage is much slower, your soil is probably high in clay. If the water drains away at about one inch per hour, you have a desirable, well-drained soil. Time the rate (on an hourly basis) of water drainage out of the hole by measuring how far the water line moves in inches. To help you recognize your own soil properties, conduct a simple drainage test:ĭig a hole approximately one foot deep and fill it with water. Smaller soil pores can store available water in times of limited rainfall. Large soil pores allow water to quickly infiltrate the soil. Aggregate structures provide both large and small pores. ![]() When you pick up a handful of soil, and it breaks apart into little pieces, you are looking at soil aggregates. Soil structure is the arrangement of soil particles into aggregates. This means that sand drains the fastest and clay drains the slowest. Sand particles are relatively large clay particles are very tiny in comparison to sand and silt particles are medium-sized. T exture is determined by the percentage of sand, silt, and clay. Soil texture and structure will determine how fast the soil will drain. Soil moisture should be viewed in two main ways: 1) drainage down through the soil and 2) runoff water across the site. Where oxygen is lacking, water and nutrient uptake stops, plant processes and growth cease, and plants begin to decline or die. Plants cannot tolerate extremely wet sites because soil that is water-logged has no room for oxygen. The typical soil consists of approximately 45% mineral, 5% organic matter, 20-30% water, and 20-30% air. The basic components of soil are minerals, organic matter, water, and air. LANDSCAPERS COMPANION APP NATIVE PLANTS HOW TOThis article also illustrates how to use native plant databases to identify plants that meet specific criteria. These objectives might include attracting birds, contributing to the natural ecosystem for native insects, decreasing lawn areas, erosion control, bloom times, color of bloom, and many other factors. In addition to moisture needs, plant selection must also include an evaluation of other requirements and specific gardening objectives. We will then consider native plants that are adaptable to wet areas. We will also focus on the factors that cause wetness, and whether a goal of decreasing moisture is a desirable, or even a viable, option. We will begin by considering what constitutes a “wet” area, and how to define varying degrees of wetness. This article will address the challenges of planting in wet areas. ![]()
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