Question
I just spent a back breaking week installing 5 large and 2 small raised beds in my yard.  Because the native soil here is useless, I used two parts topsoil, two parts manure and one part humus, purchased at Home Depot and supposedly high quality.

As soon as I finished this project it rained, extensively, for three or four days (I've learned some interesting things about soil erosion!)  

Now, the soil in the beds is very compacted and it drains very poorly - when I water the few plants I've put in them, the water sits on the surface for far too long.

How can I condition the soil to make it drain better?

Thanks for your time.

Kay

Answer
Hi Kay,

I know this sounds a bit of a silly question, but did you allow for drianage when constructed the raised beds?

If you did not allow for drainage you just made yourself some raised bog gardens. This can be ammended however.

Also what texture is the ground soil beneath, e.g. is clay, sand?