If you haven't met Walter Goodrich, let me introduce you to a hard-working and knowledgeable Wildewood 2A neighbor and friend to the Grounds Committee. Walter dug, and Mike and Lois bagged and marked by location twelve different soil samples.
Then the samples were delivered to the UF - IFAS Manatee County office for testing.
A week later we met with Susan Griffith, a landscape-friendly faculty specialist at the UF-IFAS Extension office in Manatee County. She and her staff reported the soil as basic high alkaline.
How high? Between 7 and 9.
So what does that mean and why do we care about the makeup of our soil?
Maybe you've heard the phrase "right plant, right place." This means that achieving a natural, healthy balance in the landscape starts with matching plants to the right light, drainage, surroundings, and soil.
Soil?
Susan explained: "Amending will not change a soil pH."
What? We can't amend our favorite plants into place? What about fertilizing? Pesticides and herbicides—don't they help a plant thrive?
"Well, they'll work temporarily. But you'll need to keep it up. That means a long-term commitment to chemical amendments." The Committee cares about levels of chemicals in the pond, seepage into groundwater, and effects on humans, wildlife, and pets.
A plant that likes acidic soil needs acidic soil to thrive. Same with alkaline.
Did you hope for a southern magnolia tree? Wrong pH. I know. I know.
The Committee really, really wants to make informed recommendations about planting the right plant in the right place for the sake of the plant, habitat, and our joy of living in such beauty. Ph is just one of the many aspects of central Florida wetlands (yes, Wildewood is a wetland) we are learning about from our professional educators.
And now, with this new-to-us information, we realize our choices and recommendations to the Board can save money.
How? For example, the wrong tree, in the wrong place = $ to plant it + $ to amend and irrigate more frequently + $ for future residents to remove and then grind the stump when it gets sick or does not grow well + $ to start over and plant the right tree in the right place.
And now, with this new-to-us information, we realize our choices and recommendations to the Board can save money.
How? For example, the wrong tree, in the wrong place = $ to plant it + $ to amend and irrigate more frequently + $ for future residents to remove and then grind the stump when it gets sick or does not grow well + $ to start over and plant the right tree in the right place.
