Which of the following is NOT a technique for growing healthy plants on poorly drained sites?

• A. Increase fertilizer applications to improve growth in wet soil.
• B. Select plants that can tolerate wet conditions.
• C. Improve drainage by adding raised beds or drainage tile.
• D. Add organic matter to soil around the plant to improve drainage.

Answer: (A)

When the main issue is a waterlogged root zone, the goal is to restore soil aeration and water movement so roots can function properly. Fertilizing more doesn’t address the lack of oxygen in the roots and can actually cause harm by increasing salts and pulling nutrients into already stressed tissue.

Choosing plants that tolerate wet conditions gives you species that are adapted to low-oxygen soils and can maintain growth despite moisture. Improving drainage with raised beds or drainage tiles directly mitigates the problem by removing excess water and increasing air in the root zone. Adding organic matter to the soil around plants helps loosen compacted soil, improves structure, and enhances drainage over time, which also supports better root health.

So, increasing fertilizer applications in wet soil isn’t a workable technique for poorly drained sites because it doesn’t fix drainage and can worsen plant stress, whereas selecting tolerant species, improving drainage, and adding organic matter all directly address the moisture and aeration issues.