Online Consultant: Dealing with Wet Soils
Selecting a Subsurface Drainage System

The wet soils team found that many farmers were unsure of their soil types and what type of drainage method is suited to their soils. It is important to select the right method because different soil types with different soil characteristics need different methods to drain excess water away.

Mole drains for example won't work on permeable soils and are designed for impermeable (high clay content) soils. Pipe drains will work on both permeable and impermeable soils but you have to put them so close together on impermeable soils that they become uneconomic.

To learn more about the soil types in your area, visit the soils pages of the Victorian Resources Online or the Australian Natural Resources Atlas. Referring to these soils and descriptions will give you an indication of what is likely for your farm but there is no better way to find out than by auguring a number of holes in your wet soils area.