should I redig my mini-swales?

Hey, I dug 10 mini swales on contour along a 68-ft x 8 ft food forest row.  In the future I plan to divert overflow to them from a 200 gallon rain barrel. Water also drains into them from the gentle slope of our lawn. We are in an HOA so don't shoot me for having some lawn, eh!

The swale trenches were about a foot deep originally, in largely clay soil. Leaves and debris have lessened that depth to about 6 inches. Should I re-dig them before winter?

Thanks, Julie

Julie Horney wrote:Hey, I dug 10 mini swales on contour along a 68-ft x 8 ft food forest row. . . . Leaves and debris have lessened that depth to about 6 inches. Should I re-dig them before winter?

I would. I say that because we have a number of mini-swales like you describe and have experienced the same thing, i.e. filling in. All swales tend to fill in over time, with the bigger ones taking years. When you dig it out, you may find it contains nice organic matter that can be used as mulch or incorporated into a batch of compost.

Julie, renewing your swales might not be necessary every year, depending on your conditions.  If you’re in a region that experiences “atmospheric rivers” then you might really want to maintain a “large” capacity… also true because of your clay, which I am guessing slows the infiltration process.

During a drought, you might be glad of the mulch in your swales, because it will slow the evaporation out of the soil.

It’s an opportunity to make a few theories and test them… clear some swales, and not others, and notice what happens to them.

I have some smaller swales on my property and this thread got me thinking.

I went out with a grubbing hoe and started to poke around. In just a year, quite a bit of organic matter filled in the bottom and created a bit of layer of compacted material. I dug out all of that goodness and took the time to to expand the swales a little bit. I piled the material on the lower end berm to mellow over the winter season.

I don't think doing it would hurt one bit. I believe my swale will now hold more water than if I didn't do anything.

I'd say yes, if you enjoy digging, and no, if they are working fine as-is. Also depends on your goal. Are they already doing what your goal wanted?

Thanks everyone.  I'm not sure they "did what I intended" as we had drought conditions this past summer and early fall.  I had to hand water the food forest row as most of the plants were still on the young side.  The food forest row is in its second growing season.  I removed some of the looser leaves in the swales by hand and agree that there was some nice compost underneath.  In the fall we load this entire garden with leaves from our yard, corralled by rabbit fencing.  I know, I know that rabbits need to eat too!  Yeah, they can eat elsewhere in our neighborhood, perhaps along the former farmer's tree line nearby would be good.  Will re-check things in the spring.  :J