Florida Waterwise Landscapes - Alliance for Water Efficiency

Soil can be improved
in planting beds with
amendments such as peat
or compost, added several
weeks before planting and
then again periodically.
But because amendments
break down, it is difficult
to significantly change
soil over the long term.
Adding organic matter
does improve nutrient
levels and basic soil
conditions, but will not drastically change
extreme conditions permanently. For more
information about mulches and the rates at
which they break down, contact your local
County Cooperative Extension Service office.
WHAT’S IN THE SOIL?
The County Cooperative Extension Service can
test pH in soil or irrigation water for a small fee, or
you may wish to purchase a simple kit at your
neighborhood garden center. The address and the
telephone number of your local extension office are
listed in the telephone book under county offices.
A wealth of information about soils for each
county in Florida can be found in your county’s
soil survey, published by the U.S. Department of
Agriculture’s Natural Resource Conservation Service
(listed in the telephone book under federal
government offices). Soil surveys are frequently
in the reference section of local libraries.
In a county soil survey, exact properties can be
pinpointed on aerial photographs. Specific soil types
are described as being good for certain kinds of
plants, for residential development, for septic tanks,
etc. A survey also includes information such as depth
of the water table throughout the year; water table
depth can be key in determining growing conditions
for trees and other plants.
7
Remember to take into account any fill material
that may have been brought in. Try to learn from the
builder if local soils were used. It is common to dig
retention pond areas and use that dirt for the
foundation fill. But remember that even then, soils
that are altered through disturbances can’t necessarily
be equated to undisturbed soils from the same area.
Also be aware that substances may have been spilled
or buried during construction. If there’s an
apparently unplantable area in the landscape, dig
for debris or excavate the problem area and replace
with topsoil.
Knowing the following about your soil conditions is
fundamental to matching the right plants to your site:
• pH
Getting ready for a soil test.
• Sand, clay or rich soil
• Drainage
To determine drainability, fill a hole with water
and note how quickly it drains. Knowing the water
table level can also be important; a high water table
(close to the surface) could influence growing
conditions. The highest water table level of the
year is generally in August.
To determine a high water table, dig a hole and
see if water seeps into it.
Once you understand your soil analysis, the fun
really begins — looking for plants!