Before planting, evaluate your property based on the criteria listed below. If it helps, make a sketch of your property to guide your decisions. The direction your yard faces and the location of existing trees and buildings determines how much sun or shade there is. On a sunny day, make note of which areas get morning sun, which get afternoon sun and which get none at all.
Some plants prefer more moisture, while others are better at tolerating drought.
Moisture loving plants will do better in low spots or nearer the shoreline. Higher spots away from the water will need plants that prefer drier soils. Since many plants have soil pH preferences, testing the pH of your soil can help you make more informed plant selections. Cornell Cooperative Extension and many local nurseries sell soil test kits. Some plants are better at controlling erosion on banks than others.