Florida soils have varying textures, colors, water-holding capabilities and nutrient levels for plants. It is important to examine and analyze your soil at the beginning of a landscaping project. Most Florida soils typically do a good job of supporting plant life -- just look around at the variety of plants growing naturally in Florida. When choosing plants, be aware that some may require a lot of feeding and then may still have deficiency problems. It's best to choose plants suited to existing soil conditions.

A soil's pH level -- acid, neutral or alkaline -- is one factor to analyze before selecting plants. Most plants grow best in soil that has a pH that is somewhat acidic (pH 5.5--6.5). Some plants, such as beach sunflower, will tolerate alkaline soils (high pH, above 7), while other plants simply can't. Coastal areas frequently have alkaline conditions -- the presence of salt and shell fragments can be an indication of alkalinity.

Some plants can tolerate acidic soils (lower than pH 5.5), and there are some plants that require acidic soil to thrive, for example, camellia, blueberry, gardenia and azalea.

If your landscape is in a low-lying area such as pine flatwoods, different kinds of soils may have been brought in as fill material to raise the building's foundation. Thus, soil samples will need to be taken from several areas around the yard.

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.

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.

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
• 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!