When soil repels water: why a pre-spring reset matters

Weather headlines from last year told a stark story: “UK 2025 confirmed as the warmest and sunniest on record” and “Water shortages declared nationally significant as drought spreads across England.”

Across the country, turf managers were forced to contend with prolonged dry conditions that defined the growing season.

Four distinct heatwaves were recorded across June, late June, July and August, compounding the challenge. Most significantly, spring 2025 was the driest since 1974, with rainfall totalling just 50% of the long-term average.

For turf managers emerging from winter, these conditions created a unique set of problems. Extended periods of dryness caused soils to dry deeply and unevenly, placing unirrigated turf areas under severe stress. Sward thinning, weak root systems and turf dieback were common outcomes, particularly on lighter-textured soils and sand-based constructions.

Even on irrigated surfaces, maintaining uniform moisture through the soil profile proved difficult, making it challenging to deliver consistent, healthy playing surfaces. While irrigation mitigated the worst effects, it could not fully compensate for the depth and persistence of the drought.

Autumn renovation programmes, typically incorporating aeration, overseeding, topdressing and surfactant applications should, on paper, have been highly effective given the favourable conditions for establishment. However, as we move into spring, it is critical to recognise that the legacy of such an extreme dry year does not simply disappear with the return of rainfall. In many cases, the true impact remains hidden beneath the surface.

The hidden problem beneath the surface

Although autumn and winter rainfall patterns returned to more typical levels, soils affected by the 2025 drought may not have uniformly rehydrated. Frequent winter rainfall can easily disguise this issue by wetting the immediate surface layers, giving the appearance of adequate moisture. However, deeper layers of the rootzone often remain dry and disconnected from surface water movement. This phenomenon is driven by soil hydrophobicity - also known as water repellency.

Hydrophobicity develops when soil particles become coated with wax-like compounds that repel water. These compounds are largely a by-product of organic matter decomposition, but they can also originate from plant root exudates and fungal hyphae. Over time, these substances accumulate on soil particles, reducing their ability to wet evenly. While water repellency can occur on any soil type or intensively managed sports surface, it is significantly exacerbated by repeated wet-and-dry cycles, exactly the conditions experienced during recent seasons.

During winter, this problem often goes unnoticed. Rainfall wets the surface, play may continue, and turf appears stable. However, beneath the surface, hydrophobic zones can persist, preventing water from moving evenly through the soil profile. If these conditions remain unaddressed as spring approaches, uniform soil hydration is not achieved, and turf recovery can be severely compromised.

Crucially, water repellency does not only restrict water movement, but it also limits the effectiveness of water-soluble nutrients and applied inputs. When water cannot move evenly through the rootzone, neither can nutrition. This prevents turf from responding uniformly to increasing daylight hours, rising soil temperatures and the onset of growth.

The cost of uneven water movement

The implications of soil water repellency extend beyond turf performance alone. When hydrophobic soils prevent uniform infiltration, applied fertilisers, biostimulants and plant protection products are far less efficient. Instead of being held within the rootzone where plants can access them, these inputs are often lost through preferential flow pathways.

Preferential flow occurs when water takes the path of least resistance through the soil, bypassing large areas of the rootzone entirely. In practical terms, this means water and dissolved nutrients move rapidly downward through isolated channels, straight past the roots and into deeper layers. Not only does this reduce the effectiveness of applied inputs, but it also increases the risk of nutrient leaching into groundwater, potentially contributing to negative environmental impacts on surrounding water bodies.

At a time when resource efficiency, environmental responsibility and cost control are increasingly important, addressing soil hydrophobicity becomes a critical component of sustainable turf management.

How water repellency disrupts soil function

Water repellency interferes with soil–water movement in two distinct ways:

At the surface, hydrophobic soils resist wetting, causing irrigation or rainfall to sit on top of the profile. This water is then lost through evaporation or surface run-off, reducing infiltration and increasing the risk of dry patch development.

Below the surface, hydrophobic layers disrupt lateral and vertical water movement within the rootzone. This leads to uneven moisture distribution, inconsistent rooting depth and preferential flow. In these conditions, some areas remain excessively dry while others may appear adequately moist, making moisture management increasingly difficult and unpredictable.

Why February and March matter

February and March represent a critical window for action, particularly following a drought year. During this period, soil temperatures begin to rise, evapotranspiration remains low, and there is still sufficient natural moisture available to support effective rehydration. Resetting soil hydration at this time allows uniform rewetting of the entire soil profile, restoring effective water movement to depth.

By re-establishing uniform hydration before active spring growth begins, turf managers can ensure that spring rainfall is properly “harvested” throughout the profile. This reduces the likelihood of preferential flow, improves water and nutrient retention, and ensures water and nutrition remain accessible for plant uptake during peak growth and recovery periods.

The pre-spring reset solution

To reset soil hydration effectively, The Aquatrols Company recommends Aqueduct and Aqueduct Flex (liquid and granular formulations respectively). These products are specifically designed to rapidly alleviate localised soil water repellency and restore uniform wetting across the soil profile.

In the case of dry, water repellent soils, the use of a curative soil surfactant such as Aqueduct or Aqueduct Flex sees the hydrophobic tail attach to dry soil particles and the hydrophilic head attach to water molecules – acting as a bridge to uniformly re-wet the soil profile. In as little as three days this surfactant technology can reverse hydrophobic conditions and re-establish consistent soil moisture to depth. This rapid response makes them ideally suited for late winter and early spring applications when timing is critical.

Once soil hydration has been reset, turf managers can then transition back to their standard surfactant programme for the remainder of the growing season, maintaining soil water function and supporting consistent turf performance.

The Aquatrols mission

The Aquatrols Company develops technologies that optimise soil-water-plant interactions. Our mission is to help turf managers achieve healthier, more resilient surfaces while protecting vital soil and water resources. We believe strongly in delivering high-performance, safe, and environmentally responsible solutions for end users, distributor partners, and the wider community.

By addressing soil water repellency proactively, turf managers can maximise the value of every drop of water and every applied input, setting their surfaces up for a successful growing season ahead. For further information, please contact your local Aquatrols Account Manager.

Article by Emma Beggs (above) - Portfolio Manager, The Aquatrols Company