Your First Step In Gardening
A Site Selection Survey

Doing a site selection survey is going to provide you with valuable information when it comes time to pick out your trees, shrubs and perennials.

shovel

Don't start digging until you've surveyed your yard. It will save from having to move plants.

Sketch Your Yard

Sketch an outline of your yard. This doesn't have to be a scale drawing.
Include on your drawing any exsisting buildings, trees and other permanent stuctures.
Notate on your drawing which direction is North.

KNOW WHERE YOUR UTILITIES ARE LOCATED!
Call before you start doing any digging! You don't want to be hitting any gas lines or sewer lines!

What Zone Are You In?

This is a number between 1 and 11.
You don't get to pick your own number.
The easiest way to find your Garden Zone is to use this handy tool:

Your Zone number is the lower of the two numbers that show up in the window when you entered your zip code.Mark this number on your drawing.
Memorize this number as it will become important when you go to pick out plants for your yard!

Yard Climate

Chances are your yard doesn't have just one climate. There are Micro-climates. When doing a site selection survey you notating your yards Micro-climates.

Each yard has its own sun conditions.
The only way to find out where the sun shines in your yard is to watch it.
Keep track of how it moves through the yard and notate the shady and sunny areas on your drawing.

Are there any wet areas? You'll want plants that can handle moisture in that area.

Any Overhead Obstructions?

Don't forget to look up when doing a site selection walkthrough of your yard. Overhead wires and trees can't be moved. You'll need to find trees and plants that will stay well below those obstructions.

Do You Have Areas To Hide?

Look around and notate views you would like to hide.
Is there a tool shed you can't stand looking at?
What about trash bins?
Do you want to block the view of your neighbors yard?
These areas can be hidden from view with the proper plant choices.

Now that you have your site selection questions answered you have the information needed for selecting trees and plants for your yard. You will save yourself hours of walking around the nursery by having this information with you when you go shopping for your plants. Make a copy or two of your site selection map and keep one with you at all times. You never know when you will pass by a garden center and the car pulls itself into the parking lot!

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