Soil Drainage

Today I was going to plant out some callistemons that I bought to replace the eucalpyts that died.

Step 1: Dig a hole.
This soil is very wet. Just as well the callistemon I bought says on the label that it withstands waterlogging.

Step 2: Take a closer look.
Is that water running into the hole?

Step 3: There is definitely water running into the hole - it is pooling in the bottom.

Step 4: Wait half an hour.
That didn't help. Now there is even more water! The hole is filling up.

Step 5: Give up.
The hole eventually filled with water to about 5cm below ground level.  Six hours later it was just as full. No wonder the poor Western Australian eucalypts died!  They like to live in sandy soils, not under water.