Sylvan City Landscaping

Use the map below to find out more about your local gardening conditions! Click on your town or neighborhood to see a desciption of your soil type.

llllllll Can Canna! With winds off the water, no frost pockets and average annual precipitation as low as 32 inches, areas colored in gold below can risk planting perennials hardy to only 20 degrees with protection; hardy to 15 degrees for shrubs and trees if adventurous. Plants that suffer from excessive wet winter soil like eucalyptus and canna lilies are also possible.

llllllll Kraken's Playground. Other lower elevations with substantial lake/sound influence are a bit cooler and often much wetter than west shores; average annual precipitation varies from 34 to 40 inches. Local lowlands recieve frosts heavier than surrounding areas. Feel safe planting perennials hardy to 15 degrees; hardy to 10 degrees for shrubs and trees.

llllllll The Hills. Elevations from 250ft to 500ft. Average annual precipitation generally high: 36-38 inches. Cold snaps last longer and are a bit more severe than below. Feel safe planting perennials hardy to 15 degrees with protection; hardy to 10 degrees for shrubs and trees.

llllllll The Heights. Elevations over 500ft; precipitation 38-40 inches annually. Cold snaps last longer and can be much more severe than below, but generally bring an insulating layer of snow. Feel safe planting perennials hardy to 10 degrees; hardy to 5 degrees for shrubs and trees.

llllllll The Valley. Lower elevations without lake influence. 38-40 inches precipitation annually. Local lowlands recieve frosts heavier than surrounding areas. Feel safe planting perennials hardy to 10 degrees with protection; hardy to 5 degrees for shrubs and trees.

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West Seattle

West Seattle, Delridge & Fauntelroy
Urban land: 10%
Alderwood: 62%
Alderwood-Everett: 25%
Anthraltic Xerothents: 3%

South Seattle

Mount Baker, Beacon Hill, Columbia City & Rainier Valley
Urban Land: 13%
Alderwood: 71%
Alderwood-Everett: 12%
Anthraltic Xerothents: 4%

Capitol Hill

Capitol Hill, Central District & Madison Park
Urban Land: 7%
Alderwood: 74%
Alderwood-Everett: 26%
Anthraltic Xerothents: 3%

Magnolia

Magnolia & Interbay
Urban Land: 11%
Alderwood: 59%
Alderwood-Everett: 30%

Seattle

Seattle
Urban Land: 87%
Alderwood: 13%

Lake Union

Queen Anne, Eastbay & Freemont
Water: 15%
Urban Land: 21%
Alderwood: 61%
Alderwood-Everett: 3%

Northeast

U-District, Laurelhurst, Ravenna & Wedgewood
Urban Land: 21%
Mukilteo Muck: 1%
Alderwood: 73%
Alderwood-Everett: 5%

Ballard

Ballard, Crown Hill, Greenwood & Green Lake
Water: 5%
Urban Land: 7%
Alderwood: 80%
Alderwood-Everett: 8%
Alderwood-Kitsap: 1%

North Seattle

Maple Leaf, Lake City & Bitter Lake
Urban Land: 10%
Alderwood: 78%
Alderwood-Everett: 7%
Anthraltic Xerothents: 2%
Alderwood-Kitsap: 3%

Shoreline

Shorline
Urban Land: 6%
Alderwood: 78%
Alderwood-Everett: 12%
Anthraltic Xerothents: 2%
Alderwood-Kitsap: 2%

Mtlk Terrace

Mountlake Terrace & Brier
Urban Land: 4%
Alderwood: 78%
Alderwood-Everett: 3%
Everett: 6%
Kitsap: 1%
Indianola: 1%
McKenna: 3%
Norma: 4%

Kenmore

Lake Forest Park & Kenmore
Urban Land: 6%
Alderwood: 54%
Alderwood-Everett: 18%
Everett: 8%
Kitsap: 5%
Indianola: 5%
Norma: 2%
Ragnar-Indianola: 2%

Bothell

Bothell
Urban Land: 2%
Alderwood: 55%
Alderwood-Everett: 2%
Everett: 13%
Kitsap: 8%
Indianola: 4%
McKenna: 3%
Norma: 2%
Mukilteo Muck: 3%
Snohomish: 5%
Arents: 3%

Woodinville

Woodinville & Cottage Lake
Urban Land: 2%
Alderwood: 70%
Everett: 9%
Earlmont: 2%
Kitsap: 1%
Indianola: 6%
Norma: 3%
Ragnar-Indianola: 1%
Mukilteo Muck: 3%
Snohomish: 3%

Kirkland

Kirkland
Urban Land: 1%
Alderwood: 50%
Everett: 5%
Arents: 13%
Kitsap: 11%
Indianola: 9%
Norma: 1%
Ragnar-Indianola: 9%
Mukilteo Muck: 1%

Redmond

Redmond
Urban Land: 2%
Alderwood: 41%
Everett: 14%
Arents: 5%
Earlmont: 8%
Kitsap: 6%
Indianola: 12%
Norma: 1%
Mukilteo Muck: 5%
Snohomish: 4%
Pilchuck: 2%

Medina

Medina
Urban Land: 3%
Alderwood: 47%
Arents: 22%
Bellingham: 8%
Kitsap: 11%
Indianola: 4%
Mukilteo Muck: 5%

Bellevue

Bellevue
Urban Land: 4%
Alderwood: 37%
Arents: 28%
Everett-Alderwood: 5%
Everett: 9%
Beausite: 7%
Bellingham: 2%
Kitsap: 3%
Mukilteo Muck: 5%

Mercer Island

Mercer Island
Urban Land: 3%
Alderwood: 11%
Arents: 26%
Everett-Alderwood: 6%
Kitsap: 54%

Newcastle

Newcastle
Alderwood: 47%
Everett: 7%
Arents: 4%
Beausite: 21%
Bellingham: 1%
Kitsap: 3%
Ovall: 17%

Alderwood:
Landscape: Glacial drift plains
Landform: Hills, Ridges
Landform position: Summit
Parent material: Glacial drift and/or glacial outwash over dense glaciomarine deposits
0 to 7 inches: gravelly sandy loam
7 to 59 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Most common soil type in Seattle area; most level or gently sloped areas above 100ft. Soil amendment wanted for trees and shrubs; appreciates composted mulch to add organic matter.

Everett:
Landscape: Glacial drift plains
Landform: Hills
Landform position: Shoulder, backslope
Parent material: Sandy and gravelly glacial outwash
0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
1 to 60 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Second most common soil type in Seattle; most steeper slopes. Amend heavily with planting; mulch with bark to prevent erosion.

Anthraltic Xerothents
Landscape: Glacial drift plains
Landform: Hills
Landform position: Shoulder, backslope, summit
Parent material: Glacial drift and/or glacial outwash over dense glaciomarine deposits over human-transported material
0 to 26 inches: gravelly sandy loam
26 to 59 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Uncommon and often interspersed with alderwood; treat the same.

Arents:
Landform: Till plains
Parent material: Basal till
0 to 26 inches: gravelly sandy loam
26 to 60 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Human-transported backfill; in Seattle area parent material is usually alderwood; treat the same.

Beausite:
Landscape: Foothills
Parent material: Till over residuum from sandstone
0 to 19 inches: gravelly ashy sandy loam
19 to 38 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
38 to 42 inches: bedrock
Drainage class: Well drained
Undisturbed soil on gentle slopes. Soil amendment wanted for trees and shrubs; appreciates composted mulch to add organic matter.

Bellingham:
Landform: Drainageways, Depressions
Parent material: Alluvium
0 to 11 inches: silt loam
11 to 60 inches: silty clay loam
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Depressions or flat areas near lake level; plant only water-lovers.

Earlmont:
Landform: Flood plains
Parent material: Diatomaceous earth
0 to 44 inches: silt loam
44 to 60 inches: stratified muck to very fine sand
Drainage class: Somewhat poorly drained
Found east of Totem Lake; plant only acid-lovers and mulch thickly with bark to add depth.

Indianola:
Landscape: Glacial drift and outwash plains
Landform: Terraces, Kames, Eskers
Landform position: Riser
Parent material: Sandy glacial outwash
0 to 1 inches: slightly decomposed plant material
1 to 17 inches: loamy sand
17 to 60 inches: sand
Drainage class: Somewhat excessively drained
Found on small local highs among alderwood soils. Amend heavily while planting or seeding; compost mulch heavily to add organic material. Once amended, one of the best soils in area.

Kitsap:
Landscape: Plains
Landform: Terraces
Landform position: Tread
Parent material: Glacial lacustrine deposits
0 to 10 inches: silt loam
10 to 59 inches: silty clay loam
Drainage class: Moderately well drained
Slopes at lower elveations. Limit disturbance to prevent erosion. Mulch with bark to prevent erosion.

McKenna:
Landscape: Till plains
Landform: Depressions, Drainageways
Parent material: Basal till
0 to 33 inches: gravelly silt loam
33 to 60 inches: very gravelly sandy loam
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Depressions among gravelly soils; plant only water-lovers.

Mukilteo Muck:
Landscape: Glacial drift plains
Landform: Depressions
Landform position: Dip
Parent material: Herbaceous organic material
0 to 6 inches: muck
6 to 79 inches: mucky peat
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Plant only semi-aqueous plants.

Norma:
Landform: Flood plains
Parent material: Alluvium
0 to 10 inches: ashy sandy loam
10 to 60 inches: sandy loam
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Excellent, fertile soil for plants that can stand high winter water table. Mulch thickly with bark to add depth.

Ovall:
Landscape: Foothills
Landform: Mountain slopes
Parent material: Glacial drift over residuum with volcanic ash in the upper part
0 to 36 inches: gravelly ashy loam
36 to 40 inches: Bedrock
Drainage class: Well drained
Slopes at higher elevations. Amend heavily for garden plants; mulch with bark to avoid erosion.

Pilchuck:
Landform: Low stream terraces, Flood plains
Parent material: Gravelly and sandy alluvium
0 to 38 inches: loamy fine sand
38 to 60 inches: gravelly sand
Drainage class: Excessively drained
Amend heavily while planting or seeding; compost mulch heavily to add organic material.

Ragnar:
Landform: Terraces, Kames, Eskers
Parent material: Glacial outwash
0 to 27 inches: ashy fine sandy loam
27 to 60 inches: loamy sand
Drainage class: Well drained
Found on small local highs among alderwood soils. Amend heavily while planting or seeding; compost mulch heavily to add organic material. Once amended, one of the best soils in area.

Snohomish:
Landform: Flood plains
Parent material: Alluvium
1 - 0 to 11 inches: silt loam
11 to 17 inches: clay loam
17 to 27 inches: mucky peat
27 to 60 inches: loamy fine sand
Drainage class: Poorly drained
Plant only water-lovers and don't get too attached to plants during heavy rains.

We are committed to a fully organic approach in everything we do.

Serving: Seattle, Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, Kenmore, Bothell, Woodinville, Redmond, Kirkland & Bellevue