Review Version - Guiding Plant Parents - Proper Watering

Lesson 4 of 6 Guiding Customers to Determine Proper Soil Saturation

Below are some basics that are helpful to understanding soil saturation you may share with Customers. Providing Trusted Garden Advice on Soil Saturation Experience watering and learning about the soils , enhance your abilities to observe and recognize how to advise a Customer on soil saturation .

The best way to know if the soil is adequately saturated, is to physically observe the soil profile from a foot (1') to foot and a half (1-1/2') down in the soil.

You can check soil with a soil probe , screwdriver, or wooden chopstick, and push it into the ground of the planting hole outside of the root ball.

Soil that is adequately saturated will stick to the wooden chopstick or screwdriver. If the soil crumbles off with no residue, it is likely not saturated enough.

You can check the soil with your hand by squeezing or doing the " squeeze test ".

You can direct Customers to our SummerWinds website and YouTube for helpful information like the "squeeze test" video, seen below. You can also learn more about how to test soil moisture in the course "Guide to Proper Plant Watering in the Garden Center".