Four Design Principles for Planting in a Changing Climate

Sep 9

Written By Clinton River Watershed Council

Take a look around your neighborhood, and you might notice that gardening in Michigan is starting to look a little different. Over the last few years, the Great Lakes climate has thrown us a series of curveballs: winters with erratic snow cover that require heavy road salting, springs that bring sudden "flash" downpours, and intensely hot summers marked by longer dry spells. With the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially shifting many of our local hardiness zones upward, the traditional rules of Michigan landscaping are changing.

Data from the Great Lakes Sciences and Assessments (GLISA) shows the state's annual temperature has already risen by 2.9 degrees Fahrenheit since 1951 and warming is accelerating. Average air temperatures in Michigan are expected to rise between 3 and 6 degrees by 2050 while southern Michigan will experience a steep increase in the number of days exceeding 90 and 95 degrees. Winter is warming faster than any other season, causing growing zones to shift.

Michigan is going to see a rise in annual precipitation in the form of intense storm bursts as well, which are already beginning. We will also see more short-term droughts as rising temperatures will increase soil evaporation.

What does this mean for your garden?

More runoff.
More erosion.
More standing water after storms.
More dry stress between rain events.
More stress on turf, trees, and shallow-rooted landscapes.

Some plants are already beginning to migrate northward, and that trend is likely to continue. Sugar Maple and White Pine are projected to struggle and decline in their southern ranges, while more heat-tolerant southern species move northward.

That being said, there’s still hope for our gardens. We already have Michigan native plants that are built to handle these conditions, and by planting them strategically alongside certain southern counterparts, we can make resilient, beautiful, and ecologically beneficial landscapes designed to thrive in Michigan's future.

Design Principles for Climate-Resilient Landscapes

Assisted range expansion is the process of planting trees just beyond the current edge of their native growing area. This practice helps forests adapt to climate change by establishing trees in newly suitable habitats before they can naturally migrate there on their own. As modern climate shifts are happening at a rate much faster than trees can naturally migrate, this helps prevent ecosystem collapse since trees that are traditionally native to a region are being pushed out, altering long established ecosystems.
Diversity is the foundation of a healthy garden, which helps ensure the resiliency of your landscape. Every plant responds differently to drought, flooding, extreme heat, late frosts, pests, and diseases. If one species struggles during an unusually hot or wet year, others may continue to thrive, ensuring the landscape still provides shade, beauty, erosion control, and habitat for wildlife.

Diversity also supports biodiversity. Different plants flower at various times and provide food and shelter for pollinators, birds, and beneficial insects. This creates a more stable ecosystem that can recover from disturbances and adapt to changing environmental conditions. Think about how wildlife can better adapt to a changing climate when food, shelter, and nesting habitat are still readily available.

So, when designing your garden, think about how to include trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and other deep-rooted perennials as they all have their own part to play.
Capture rainwater or stormwater runoff through rain barrels, rain gardens, and bioswales. The projected increase in heavy rainfall doesn’t have to damage your landscape. With thoughtful design, it can become one of your greatest resources. Collecting rainwater in a rain barrel provides a free source of irrigation during the short dry periods that are becoming more common. Likewise, a properly designed rain garden captures stormwater using deep-rooted native plants that are adapted to both periodic flooding and the dry conditions between rain events. Keeping stormwater on your property also helps reduce runoff entering storm drains, protecting local streams and rivers from erosion, pollution, and flash flooding. It also helps recharge groundwater rather than sending valuable rainwater directly into storm drains.
Select the right plants that can thrive under Michigan's changing climate. While no single species is the perfect solution, certain trees, shrubs, grasses, and perennials have characteristics that make them well-suited for a warmer, wetter, and more variable future.

Climate Forward Plant Guide

Download our Climate Forward Plant Guide for help selecting plants for your garden’s sustainability in the long term.

No plant is perfectly adapted to every site. Soil type, moisture, sunlight, and available space should always guide the plant selection. These recommendations represent species that are expected to perform well under projected climate conditions when matched to appropriate growing sites.

Also, it's important to note that there are aggressive or invasive species that will increase their northward range on their own, and it’s important not to plant anything invasive, especially as winters warm. Try to stick to non-aggressive perennials or southern US natives.

Conclusion

Climate change is reshaping Michigan’s landscapes whether we are ready or not. Fortunately, our gardens can become part of the solution rather than another casualty of these changes. By planting resilient native species, incorporating carefully selected climate-forward plants, reducing runoff and supporting biodiversity, we can build landscapes that continue to thrive for decades to come.

Every tree we plant, every rain garden we install, and every pollinator-friendly garden we create is an investment—not only in our own yards, but in healthier rivers, healthier wildlife and a more resilient Michigan for generations to come.

FAQ

1. How is Michigan experiencing climate change?

2. What does climate change mean for my garden?

Winter is warming faster than any other season, causing growing zones to shift. Your garden may be affected by: more runoff, erosion, standing water after storms, dry stress between rain events, stress on turf, trees, and shallow-rooted landscapes.

3. Should I change what I plant in my garden?

Some plants are already beginning to migrate northward, and that trend is likely to continue. We already have Michigan native plants that are built to handle these conditions, and by planting them strategically alongside certain southern counterparts, we can make resilient, beautiful, and ecologically beneficial landscapes designed to thrive in Michigan's future.

4. Should I design my garden differently?

Yes. Use assisted range expansion by planting trees just beyond the current edge of their native growing area. This helps forests adapt to climate change by establishing trees before they naturally migrate on their own.

Diversity is the foundation of a healthy garden, which helps ensure the resiliency of your landscape. When designing your garden, think about how to include trees, shrubs, grasses, sedges, and other deep-rooted perennials.

Don’t let the projected increase in heavy rainfall damage your landscape. Capture rainwater or stormwater runoff through rain barrels, rain gardens, and bioswales.

Select the right plants that can thrive under Michigan's changing climate. Some species have characteristics that make them well-suited for a warmer, wetter, and more variable future.

5. Which plants should I select for my garden?