First, I want to make very clear that Chicagoland is not in a drought this year. I repeat, there is no drought. I also want to emphasize that I mulched the garden. The good covering of mulch is what delayed my discovery of the problem. My first clue that something was amiss was when a previous healthy Columbine started wilting. When I moved the mulch, I found a bunch of big, deep cracks in the soil. To try to determine how deep the cracks went, I stuck my Japanese type weeder, affectionately known as my "Hari Kari" kife, into the crack.
It's 6 1/2 inches from the tip of the blade to the hilt. I'm shocked that the three Campanula 'Dickson's Gold' haven't started dying.
I don't know why my soil does this, but every year it develops these big cracks. I just keep filling them with compost and hoping for the best. Guess I'd better start watering the garden again.
First, I want to make very clear that Chicagoland is not in a drought this year. I repeat, there is no drought. I also want to emphasize that I mulched the garden. The good covering of mulch is what delayed my discovery of the problem. My first clue that something was amiss was when a previous healthy Columbine started wilting. When I moved the mulch, I found a bunch of big, deep cracks in the soil. To try to determine how deep the cracks went, I stuck my Japanese type weeder, affectionately known as my "Hari Kari" kife, into the crack.
It's 6 1/2 inches from the tip of the blade to the hilt. I'm shocked that the three Campanula 'Dickson's Gold' haven't started dying.
I don't know why my soil does this, but every year it develops these big cracks. I just keep filling them with compost and hoping for the best. Guess I'd better start watering the garden again.
17 comments:
I wonder why.~~Dee
I keep finding more! One goes right into the smoke bush, and one right under the peony! I got more compost, but not enough for cracks as deep, if not deeper, than yours. Clearly, water and mulch mean nothing. ARGH.
Are they actually cracks or could the be rodent runs...like voles?
Hi MMD, that is sad, your cracks. And you say it is not from lack of rain? Is there an extension office you can contact about it? We have cracks, but know it is from lack of water.
I am curious about this as well. With all the rain, this is surprising.
Dee - it's one of those mysteries of the universe.
Benjamin Vogt - I stuff in the compost, water to make it sink in, then stuff in some more. Of course if you run out of compost, then you're in real trouble.
Hi, Josh - I know what rodent runs look like, & these aren't them. They start off as small cracks, and then they keep getting bigger.
Frances - I might try the extension service, but I bet they tell me to water more.
Ok, we DO NOT get those kind of things here. What do you think it could be? That is very puzzling.
And a little weird.
Jen
I get those large cracks in my garden too. I can blame mine on lack of mulch. What a knucklehead!
So I googled soil cracks...fascinating isn't it! I know you already did but I was curious! I learned I have Expansive soil...clay that expands and contracts when wet and dry. I did read that even if you have good soil on top of clay the underlying clay can crack, but don't ask me to remember where! Solution...what you're doing... more, more and more compost!
I think Gail is on to the answer here, but also-mulch if very thick can form a crust on top. The crust causes the water to run off not soaking into the ground beneath it. I know this sounds silly, but try fluffing your mulch every once in a while. Hope this helps some.
My clay does that like Gail said--but you don't have it--right? So I have another guess....Is there a plant on the down side that is pulling the soil downward as it grows. This could be gravity driven. It looks a bit like erosion or shifting soil. Almost like an avalanche works also.
The heavy downside breaks away from the upper established area and keeps sliding downhill. The upper part will remain in place cause established fiborous roots in that area are keeping it stable. Only the bottom part is moving downhill. Is that a possibility? If so, you need a barrier to keep the bottom mulch from moving.
Hi MMD,
I have to say we haven't had those this year with all the rain, but have seen them in the past, and we just filled them in with compost too.
I too think Gail's on to something there, because I've heard about the ground "cleaving" over the winter here ... thus expanding and pushing things from way down up higher. Over the years we've had a lot of odd stuff appear near the surface (silver coins, old toys, broken glass and dishes, etc.). Seems really weird to me that it would happen in full summer though!
All that to say, I have no definitive answer to this, not that one should expect one from me, lol!
MMD, I have this problem to, like you my soil isn't clay. I think the mulch is making it worse, it only takes a day or two of dry weather for my cracks to appear. I read Anna's reply carefully as I garden on a slope and thought it might be the answer, I will have a good look next time it stops raining for long enough!
Best wishes Sylvia (England)
Laurie - I've never thought to investigate this, I've always just dealt with it. Am I too accepting?
MBD - I think it's just part of the fun of living in the Midwest, something to do with clay.
Beth - don't blame yourself! It'd probably crack under the mulch too.
Gail - thanks for the research. This might be an argument for double digging. I think I'll keep adding stuff on top.
Beckie - so in addition to deadheading & weeding, I have to fluff my mulch! :^)
Anna - I think your theory is partially applicable. This part of the garden does have clay soil, but I do have a Cottonwood downslope from this area, although the slope is not steep.
IVG - finding interesting things in the garden is another benefit to living in an old house. All I find in the garden are chunks of old concrete. But that's for a post.
Sylvia - maybe you should try fluffing your mulch periodically too.
Double digging and incorporating compost sounds like the answer to me, but I think I would rather fill cracks with compost than do the digging.
mmd,
One thing i did read was that those of us who do garden on clay soil should dig our soil in fall and leave the clumps exposed for the winter heave to break it up. Isn't that interesting!
Gail
I've noticed these cracks, too, particularly a week or so after a heavy rain. Geology or soil science is definitely not my field, but I was thinking of contraction and expansion, too. I think Gail and Beckie have some good ideas. Perhaps Beckie could explain, though, how to "fluff" our mulch:)
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