Pete's Bog: Drain it

If you drain an old bog with deep peat deposits you may notice several changes. First of all the peat will dry out. As it dries out it will shrink, like a dry sponge. What do you think will happen next? The land will sink as the soil shrinks! Dry peat also blows away very easily.

If you drain your bog, it will also not be able to store the amount of water it used to. Bogs hold lots of water, just like a sponge. They also help soak up extra flood water so that streams and rivers don't flood so much.

Try it! Buy some peat from a garden supply store and see how much water it will hold compared to other soil in you back yard.