Soil Compaction
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute
Episode Archive
Episode #142 | Original Air Date: September 15, 2020
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Transcript
Compacted soils help give our homes a stable foundation, but they aren’t ideal for establishing a thriving home landscape.
Soil compaction is usually the result of heavy foot or vehicle traffic. A compacted soil makes it hard for plant roots to grow and take up nutrients. It also makes it hard for water to soak in, leading to higher stormwater runoff.
Construction work around new homes often leads to soil compaction problems that then impede successful landscape establishment. Consider rototilling to loosen the soil prior to placing sod or installing ornamental shrubs.
For high traffic areas, install permeable pavers to help distribute weight while still allowing water to filter through.
Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ in a Minute is a production of the University of Florida’s Florida-Friendly Landscaping™ Program, IFAS Extension, and WUFT-FM in cooperation with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
