Wisconsin Master Gardener Practice Exam 2026 - Free Master Gardener Practice Questions and Study Guide

Drainage and aeration are controlled by soil structure—the way soil particles clump into aggregates and the pore spaces that form between them. This arrangement creates the channels through which water moves and air flows; well-aggregated soils with interconnected pores drain freely and stay aerated, while poorly structured or compacted soils have limited pore space and restrict both drainage and aeration. Texture, the inherent particle size distribution, influences water-holding capacity and drainage potential but is not defined by how particles are arranged. Color relates to minerals and moisture, and the soil profile describes the vertical layering, not the property that governs drainage and aeration.