Gardening expert Ann Schwind of Los Angeles offers advice on working with soil that's too wet or dry. To improve the situation, work with the soil while you water. Set up a sprinkler, or allow the hose to run on the soil while you turn it with a cultivator or a trowel. The use of automatic timers may give you soil that's too wet. Don't forget that automatic water-delivery systems must be adjusted in accordance with weather conditions and the season.
Plants use more water in spring and summer, much less in fall and winter.
To determine whether your soil is too wet, use a soil probe to take a core sample from deep within the soil. Insert the probe, pull it out, and examine the core for moisture content. Turn the timer off at this point to allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Use a soil moisture meter to determine when it's time to water. Meters are inexpensive and especially useful if you have a container garden or a small patio garden.