OBSERVATIONS of water repellency in soils made over the past 10 years throughout the world have indicated that this particular problem is more important than had previously been thought. There have been reports that water repellency in golf greens and lawns is responsible for drought conditions even though the grass has had sufficient watering. This condition of water repellency has often been associated with thatch buildup. Nurserymen have noted that many of the soil mixes they use for potting plants are hard to wet.