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| We have a slope that is partially clay.
To help retain moisture, I was thinking that if I create sand filled trenches that are perpendicular to the direction of the slope they will collect water and slowly let it seep into the clay at the down hill side of the trench. It seem that this would keep water on the slope and keep the slope from drying out so quickly. For example if from the top of the slope to the bottom is in an east to west direction the trenches would be 6" to 8" deep in the north to south direction. This could be expanded so that the trenches are in a chevron pattern and the main plantings at each point. Would this be a waste of time, materials and effort? |
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| Very interesting idea. It would be like watering from under the soil surface which works well. But with the slope not sure how that changes things. Clay retains moisture very well. My guess is you mean runoff will occur rather quickly.Hence you will have to water,wait,water,wait..... until you get good depth into the soil. |
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- Posted by bassplayer7 6 (My Page) on Thu, Aug 11, 11 at 11:07
| Interesting thought. My understanding, though, was that sand drained very quickly. I wonder if it would indeed "hold" water. I think the clay around it would keep some of the water in, but the rest of the hill is clay, so if that was the case it may not make a difference. |
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| Good point bassplayer. Where the sand trenches are will dry out much sooner than the surrounding clay thus you will have to water based on that. Kind of defeats the whole idea. |
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| OP: The thought was that the sand trenches would collect the water giving it longer time to be absorbed by the clay. It seemed that the water would stay on the slope in the trenches rather than run down the slope and be lost. With the chevron idea the trenches would channel the water to the Plant/Tree's root ball increasing the effectiveness of the rain. Once they were in they would be covered by the natural mulch that you would put into the area, or the grass that was planted. |
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