You should be able to assess a site using information gathered from documentation or visits. You should understand the impact of biotic factors including orientation, soil, how different plants will be suited to shade, full sun, partial shade, cooler areas, warmer areas, and so on. You should also be able to suggest plants for specific areas or habitats such as pond areas, or to serve a purpose such as plants for windbreaks. You should also understand how plants interact with each other and the environment. Some will provide shade, some will be invasive, and some will also provide fruit and other benefits to the horticulturalist or gardener. You should be able to discuss how different places in a site might be more exposed, in a frost pocket, or how plants are affected by where they are grown in the UK (northern areas being cooler and having later springs, for example). Soil type is important, and you should be able to suggest plants suited to different soil types including sandy, clay, and loam. pH is also a factor you should use to determine the right plants for a site. Understanding the natural habitats and provenance of plants should allow you to understand how plant selection is important because you need to choose plants, for example, for a warm, dry slope, that originate in similar conditions such as the Mediterranean. Being able to select plants for a habitat that already exists or plants for a habitat created in a site such as a meadow is important. This knowledge will also help you to be able to suggest plants for seemingly difficult places like wind tunnels (Cotoneaster dammeri) or arid areas (Sempervivum).
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