Soil Amendments

Healthy soils are the foundation of a healthy landscape. Soil amendments improve landscape appearance and resilience, while also reducing irrigation, stormwater runoff and fertilizer and pesticide dem​and. Adding soil amendments in new construction​ is particularly important as fill material simply lacks the nutrients and organic matter necessary for landscapes to thrive. For existing landscapes, top dressing with soil amendments provides similar benefits and can be used as a substitute to fertilizer. This practice has shown to reduce water quality impacts from urban runoff.

However, not all soil amendments are created equal. Look for compost that meets the U.S. Composting Council Seal of Testing Assurance (STA). Here is a list of STA certified compost participants in Florida.

Alachua county’s Soil Amendment Rebate Program provides funding for incorporating soil amendments i​n new construction. The rebate offers reimbursement of 50% of the costs of materials and installation, up to $2,000 per residential lot and $8000 for commercial projects, based on the size of the amended area. Interested parties must complete the Soil Amendment Rebate application form​ and include invoices (must be shown as paid) for material and installation costs.

Eligibility:

• Rebates must be used in new construction, including residential lots, commercial projects or common areas of subdivisions
• Soil amendments must meet the standards of the US Composting Council’s Seal of Testing Assurance Program
• Soil amendments must be incorporated into the top 6 inches of the soil at a rate of 4 cubic yards per 1,000 square feet of amended area

Interested builders, developers or landscape professionals can contact Eliana Bardi at (352) 264-6810 or EBardi@alachuacounty.us for more information.

• U.S. Composting Council
• Practical Instructions for Amending Urban Soils
• ​Guidance for Amending Urban Soils with Organic Amendments