Sandy soils are composed of larger particles that feel granular and grainy. Sand is typically well-drained and does not retain water well.

Clay soils are composed of very fine particles that when wet feel sticky. Clay typically feels very heavy and holds water longer than other soil types.

Wet soils will puddle during winter rains and the puddles remain for longer than one day. Even during dry summers the soil often remains moist.

Compaction occurs when soil particles are pressed together reducing the infiltration of water and air. This can be caused by construction, vehicles, or heavy foot traffic.

Dappled shade is a garden site under a canopy of trees and this area receives about two to three hours of sunlight filtered through the branches above. When one looks up into the canopy between one-qu [..]

Plants that are deciduous completely lose all of their leaves in autumn and new foliage grows back in springtime.

This type of shade is dense with little to no direct sunlight, usually occurring from an almost impenetrable overhead canopy of trees with less than one quarter of the sky being visible.

Virtually no plant is invulnerable to being damaged by deer if population pressures or severe weather conditions prevail. However, there are a number of plants that are generally less favored and are [..]

Plants only require supplemental water about once a month during the dry season after being established (typically two years of regular supplemental watering during the dry season).

Plants that are evergreen retain leaves throughout the year.