The freshman gardener
Sun vs. Shade 101:
Why it matters in gardening
Sun & Shade Basics
Knowing where to plant your plants based on how much sun and/or shade they will get is fundamental in gardening. Along with growing zones, the sun or shade can make a huge impact on wether specific plants and flowers thrive or not.
When I was first married we had a little garden bed at the front of our house. It was mostly shady but that didn’t mean anything to me back then. I filled that garden bed full of flowers that LOVE sun. And guess what, they didn’t do well there at all. Everything was sparse and looked ragged. Some flowers didn’t even bloom at all. I couldn’t figure out why. Now I know it was because I had planted sun loving plants in a bed that got 90% shade.
Plants need sunlight to grow and stay alive. That’s basic science from elementary school. They don’t all need the same amounts and types of sunlight however. When looking at a plant tag, you’ll see an area that describes the sun needed for that particular plant. This is a really important bit of information to help that plant/flower thrive.
Full Sun
Plants and flowers that have this on their tag need at least 6 hours of direct sun each day. That means the sunlight needs to actually be shining directly on their leaves/buds. These plants thrive in these conditions. Dahlias are a good example of this. I have my dahlias on the side of my house that gets the most sun during the day. They love it! When planting plants and flowers that need full sun, watch out for trees, fences, buildings and other large shrubs that would shade or block the sun.
Some examples of flowers that like full sun are Petunias, Marigolds, Lavender, Echinacea, Zinnias and Daisies.
Partial Sun & Partial Shade
Partial sun plants like sun, just not too much of it. About 4-6 hours of direct sun is perfect for these plants. They tend to do best with morning sun because the temps are cooler and they don’t get as hot. I plant my partial sun plants on the east side of my house where they get the sun when it rises and then are shaded as the day gets more hot. These plants will do well next to a fence or a tree or building that will give it some needed shade during the day. Just make sure they are still getting at lease 4 hours of direct sun.
Some flowers that are partial sun loving flowers are certain types of Hydrangea, Daffodils, Impatiens, and Vinca
Shade
Shade loving plants still needs some sunlight to live and grow, they just don’t need very much direct sun. Less than 3 hours is perfect for these plants and flowers. Shade plants tend to have beautiful lush green foliage and thrive in cooler temps. My little flower bed in my first house would have been perfect with some beautiful shade loving greens and flowers in it.
Some examples of shade plants are Hostas, Bleeding Hearts, Astilbe, Ferns, Begonias, and Fuchsias.
One of the coolest things about plants is they are resilient. Sure we want them to thrive but a lot of them are good at staying alive with what they’ve got. A lot of these sun situations have to do with the climate you live in also. On the Oregon Coast, I’ve seen so many beautiful blue hydrangeas that seem to be in full sun spots. The coast is cooler however and the foggy and hazy skies work really well for those flowers there. Sometimes it helps to see what a lot of people are growing in the area around you and then use that information to help you pick plants that would do well in your gardens in the shade and the sun.
Homework
- In your notebook, draw a rough outline of your house or garden area. Add in any trees and large shrubs, fences and outbuildings.
- Mark the north, south, east, and west sides of your home or garden.
Sun Vs. Shade 101: A+
For other lessons click HERE
Recent Comments