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1. Determine the exposure.
The ﬁrst thing to consider is whether you have primarily sun or shade. Light can vary greatly depending on the time of day, the season and whether it is ﬁltered or completely blocked. • Dry sun areas get six or more hours of full sun, resulting in warm, dry soil. An area exposed to winds may also be dry since wind can take moisture from plants. • Dry shade areas are under trees or eaves or against north-or east-facing walls. The eaves and tree roots can make the soil dry • Loamy soil is a mix of sand, silt, clay and organic matter (decomposed leaves, bark or manure). This soil is usually loose, drains well and holds onto moisture and nutrients.	Why it is climate smart With climate change, we likely will experience drier summers, wetter winters and possible shifts in the timing of seasons. When you match the right plants to the right environment, your plants grow stronger roots and are healthier, which in turn: • Requires less watering • Reduces or eliminates the need for pesticides • Makes plants more resilient to climate change
2. Know your soil
You also need to know what soil conditions you have: • Sandy soil has the largest particles. This soil is loose, drains easily and dries out fast. • Clay soil has the smallest particles. When wet, this soil is heavy, sticky and often soggy. In winter, it can get waterlogged, causing some plants to rot. In summer, it can be hard to dig into. Clay soil holds onto nutrients and water better than sandy soil.
3. Test your drainage.
Test your soil drainage by digging a hole six inches wide and one foot deep, then fill to the top with water and let it drain. When the water has drained completely, fi ll the hole again. This time keep track of how long it takes for the water to drain completely from the hole. • If the water drains within three hours or less, you probably have sandy soil. • If water is still standing in the hole after eight hours, you probably have clay soil. It will be important to choose plants that don’t need good drainage. • If the water drains within four to six hours, you have good drainage and can choose a variety of plants.
4. Choose the right plants.
Once you know the sun, shade, soil, and drainage conditions of your yard, you can choose the right plants. Check with your local nursery for what is available and suggestions for plant combinations.
For free garden advice and information, please contact the Garden Hotline at (206) 633-0224 or help@gardenhotline.org or visit www.savingwater.org. Click Here for Printable PDF