Florida soil

» Kolla - How is the 'normal' Floridian soil?

Hi Julie!
I just moved to Florida from Iceland, and the new things in this place will probably never cease to amaze me! Although I have worked for numerous seasons in Icelandic plant nurseries, as a biologist, I find myself totally at loss when it comes to gardening here. That's where the soil worries come in, I'm used to very humus-rich dark brown soil, but it seems to me that all there is in my garden here is sand!! There are some big trees growing here, and some bushes to (I have no idea what species) but I would like to plant some more stuff and reorganize the garden. I live in DeLand, FL, which would make zone 9, right? So, do I have to import some kind of soil, or will this sand-soil do for most plants? I would appreciate it very much if you could help me out... I'd really like to get going with this.
All advices will be appreciated. Thank you

-- posted by Kolla

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» jfinn - Florida soil

Welcome to Florida, Kolbrun.
I'm originally from Virginia. Like you, I was accustomed to gardening with real soil - yes, wonderful chocolate brown river loam crawling with worms and organic matter. I remember visiting the local agricultural office here for the first time. The extension agent suggested I
test my soil for pH, etc. I dutifully went home and started digging.
Never did find any soil. :-)

As you have observed, Florida's "soil" consists mainly of sand over limestone. While we can't grow the choice alpines you're accustomed to,
there are many, many plants we can grow here. Most of them, however, grow best in amended soil. Gardeners here tend to plant in raised beds. I personally amend all my soil with organic matter (composted manure, vegetable matter, grass clippings) at planting time. Check around --there is probably a farmer or a horse owner who would be delighted to give you all the manure you want.

If you don't want to amend your soil, I suggest you stick to growing native plants. Since you are a biologist, you already have an invaluable understanding of plant communities and how they operate. All you really need to do is to read up on your new plants and learn their botanical names and cultural requirements. Listed below are books that I've found to be extremely helpful in discovering the what, where, how, when
and why's of gardening in Florida. Most of these books are available at your local library. If you find your local library doesn't have one of
these titles, they can borrow it from another library for you at no charge through an inter-library loan.

Florida Gardener's Guide by Tom McCubbin and Georgia B. Tasker, Cool Springs Press, Tennessee, 1997. ISBN 1-888608-31-5

Florida Landscape Plants: Native and Exotic by John V. Watkins and Thomas J. Sheehan, The University Presses of Florida, Gainsville, Florida, 1975. ISBN 0-8130-0861-1

Native Florida Plants by Robert G. Haehle and Joan Brookwell, Gulf Publishing Company, Houston, Texas, 1999. ISBN 0-88415-425-4.

The Trees of Florida: A Reference and Field Guide, by Gil Nelson, Pineapple Press Inc., Sarasota, Florida, 1994.

The Guide to Florida Wildflowers, by Walter Kingsley Taylor, Taylor Publishing Co., Dallas, Texas, 1992.

The Right Plant for Dry Places: Native Plant Landscaping in Central Florida, by Suncoast Native Plant Society, Great Outdoors Publishing
Company, St. Petersburg, Florida. 1997.

Guide to the Vascular Plants of Florida by Richard P. Wunderlin, University Presses of Florida, Gainsville, Florida, 1998. ISBN 0-8130-1556-1

-- posted by jfinn

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