Improving Your Soil

Good, nutritious soil is the basis for any plant's success. Unfortunately, what Florida gardeners have to work with is mostly sand. This fine "sugar sand" doesn't hold water or nutrients very well. But you can improve your soil with a host of Florida-friendly amendments, such as compost, manure or even worm castings.

UF/IFAS Sites

• Landscape Plants: Adding Organic Matter

UF/IFAS Publications

• Bed Preparation is the Key to Successful Flowers and Vegetables (PDF)
• Coir Dust, A Viable Alternative to Peat Moss
• Comments on Soil Amendments (PDF)
• Converting Yard Wastes Into Landscape Assets
• Enrich the Soil for Fall Vegetable Garden (PDF)
• Preparing Your Soil for a Successful Garden
• Producing Garden Vegetables with Organic Soil Amendments
• Protect and Improve Your Soil (PDF)

Also on Gardening in a Minute

• Composting: Introduction
• Earthworms in the Landscape
• Organic Fertilizers
• Soil Health
• Vermicomposting

Other Sites

• Choosing a Soil Amendment--Colorado State University Extension
• Improving Garden Soil Fertility--Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (PDF)
• Improving Garden Soils with Organic Matter--Oregon State University Extension Service (PDF)
• Improving Lawn and Landscape Soils--University of Missouri Extension
• Mushroom Compost: Use Carefully--Oregon State University Extension
• Sand: That Wonderful Stuff--Florida Native Plant Society (PDF)
• Using Manure in the Garden--University of Illinois Extension
• Using Manure in the Home Garden--University of Wisconsin Master Gardener Program