Observe and take note of your existing landscape before you begin to plant

· How does the sun move across your property during the winter and in the summer?
· What is the condition of your soil, i.e. clay, sand, etc?
· What are the various microclimates that exist on your property? (microclimate: The climate of a small, specific place within an area as contrasted with the climate of the entire area).
· What direction do the Northern and Southern winds come from in relationship to your home?
· How does water flow on your property during and after it has rained?

Use native plants as much as possible

· If you cannot irrigate or you have dry soils, drought tolerant natives are ideal such as False Indigo (Baptisia australis) and Yarrow (Achillea millefolium).
· If you are getting less than 2 hours of sun per day, look for plants found in indigenous woodlands such as Bleeding Heart (Dicentra spectabiles) or Woodland Poppy (Stylophorum diphyllum).
· True natives require less maintenance than hybrids or exotics.
· Choose natives that are hardy to your planting zone. The southeast piedmont plant hardiness area is zone 7b.
· Using native plants creates areas for food and shelter for beneficial insects and native animal species which creates a balanced natural environment.

Use mulch as a means to retain moisture and add nutrients to the soil

· 2 to 4 inches of mulch can retain soil moisture, slow down evaporation, and protect roots from overheating.
· Mulching with leaves that have fallen in the Fall and Winter is an inexpensive source of retaining moisture for plant and adding nutrients to the soil.

Watering the landscape

· Early morning is the best time to water; late evening watering can invite fungus to grow on plants.
· Use a rain gauge to measure rain fall amount; if you get ¾ to 1 inch of rain in a week, you can skip watering your lawn.
· Use drip irrigation(watering); 40% of water is lost to the air with spray irrigation systems.
· Use cistern or rain barrels to collect rainwater from your roof to water your garden/landscape.