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Step 2 in creating a rain garden
is testing the soil
in your selected site for permeability
We need to make sure that the soil in this area
will accept water within a certain period of time
so you don't have standing water or mosquitoes
With a trowel, dig a hole 8 to 12 inches deep
in the middle of the selected site
Fill this hole with water
and monitor for the next 24 to 48 hours
to make sure the water is absorbed
This test will help determine how much amendment
you'll need to add to your soils
Watch it over 24, 48 hours, see what happens
Ideally you want the water to drain
through that soil in 24 hours
and it means it's probably
a good place for a rain garden
If its not draining, you may need
to look at another site on your property
or you can redo the test under varying conditions
Maybe it's been dry for 10 months
or maybe its been raining for 7 years
and you need to adjust
Once you perform this test
you can move on to Step 3, which is
amending the soil as prescribed