Yes. Aeration may be the ticket as I usually have a hydrophobic crust on the top. Watering slowly usually helps saturation but I think I'm losing a lot to the sides. Thx
I do a 'ring' around the outside perimeter of the soil first...make sure I get a good amount within the first inch and a half to two inches, then work my way inward with the first pour.
I have found that different soils act differently. Right now I'm in ProMix and I find it doesn't seem to leak water out the sides of the bag much at all and takes good time to soak in the water as you do it. It doesn't seem to compact as much others too.