Texas Hill Country caliche vs Arizona soil around Phoenix, pros and cons of both soils?

[fr8train]

I was wondering what can be done about either to amend it, how much needs to be done, and which soil is worse? What palms thrive in either, and what can be gardened in these sort of soils? 

[zero]

I didn't live in the hill country but rather far west San Antonio.  The soil there was quite rocky with a mix of caliche and loam and drained very well.  Of all the places in Texas where I have grown palms (10 different counties) I had the best growth in SA.  In particular I noticed excellent growth from a mule palm, Phoenix canariensis, Phoenix theophrasti and Livistona nitida.

[Silas_Sancona]

Since it is Alluvial and drains pretty well, never had issues w/ the soil here. Pretty good in a lot of areas around the valley as well.

Best " mulch " -here at least- = yard debris and duff from trees like Mesquites, Palo Verde,  Ironwood since it is loaded with tons of N. Wood chips often wash away before breaking down enough to be of any prolonged benefit. Rare you see anyone using them.  Gravel is a common sight and i've yet to see using it adversely effect stuff planted in it. I get mushrooms popping up through 6" of rock in my yard, every summer.

Foothill areas can be a little worse than on the valley floor ( ..Because the soil up there is often rockier ) but since most of the rock that makes up the " dirt " up there is derived of various volcanic rocks, it is often full of nutrients like K, Magnesium, Iron, Copper, etc..

Doesn't seem to bother anything growing up there.  Boyce Thompson Arboretum is an excellent example of that.

tough- to- manage- " Caliche " type soil profiles are more of an issue in far Southern AZ where there is more Limestone / numerous " Playa " type depressions that can collect dissolved calcium carbonate.

As always, there are exceptions to that rule..

Some parts of Glendale sit atop a giant, underground Salt Dome for example. Other spots around town that might sit in / near rarely disturbed, old lake beds can have varying degs. of Caliche -related issues too.