Sun in the Garden
May 16th 2006 00:39
A Course in Gardening #4: Sun in the Garden
Last edition, we looked at what you might want to get out of your garden as a way of narrowing down the myriad of plants from which we may choose. These thoughts, combined with some basic design principles explored in edition #2, have thus far hopefully given us a basic framework from which we might launch into our gardening.
However it pays to pause at this point, and digress to two important topics, namely then sun, and the soil. An understanding of both is vital to your garden. This edition is about the Sun, and the next edition will cover soil.
Hopefully by now you have a rough understanding of the amount of sun your site gets. Don't be too worried if it is not exact, planting according to sun exposure is not an exact science.
Thankfully most plants in the nursery have labels to inform you of the standards for determining sun exposure. What they often don't tell you is exactly what the terminology used means practically. As such, here is an explanation for the terms you will encounter:
Full sun
At least 6 hours of full sunlight. Plants can take more, but they need water!
Partial Sun/ Partial Shade
These terms are similar in definition, that is, 3-6 hours of sunlight a day. The sunlight is best in the morning or eraly afternoon.
However, if Partial Sun is used, the emphasis is on minimal sun requirements.
If Partial Shade is used, the plant requires shade from the late afternoon sun (perhaps from another plant in your garden, or your house..or an overgrown garden gnome....watch out!)
Dappled Sun
A beautiful term in itself, this means the sunlight that scatters through
branches of decidous trees. Some plants like to bask in this dappled sunlight all day long (lucky bastards).
Full Shade
No more than 3 hours of sunlight per day. This does not mean no sun! We are growing plants, not mushrooms!
Hopefully an explanation of these terms will help you next time you enter the nursery scouting for shrubs of all kinds. Keep in mind how much sun your site gets, what type of sun, and the intended style of your garden, next time you compare the plants' suitability for sun.
Last edition, we looked at what you might want to get out of your garden as a way of narrowing down the myriad of plants from which we may choose. These thoughts, combined with some basic design principles explored in edition #2, have thus far hopefully given us a basic framework from which we might launch into our gardening.
However it pays to pause at this point, and digress to two important topics, namely then sun, and the soil. An understanding of both is vital to your garden. This edition is about the Sun, and the next edition will cover soil.
Hopefully by now you have a rough understanding of the amount of sun your site gets. Don't be too worried if it is not exact, planting according to sun exposure is not an exact science.
Thankfully most plants in the nursery have labels to inform you of the standards for determining sun exposure. What they often don't tell you is exactly what the terminology used means practically. As such, here is an explanation for the terms you will encounter:
Full sun
At least 6 hours of full sunlight. Plants can take more, but they need water!
Partial Sun/ Partial Shade
These terms are similar in definition, that is, 3-6 hours of sunlight a day. The sunlight is best in the morning or eraly afternoon.
If Partial Shade is used, the plant requires shade from the late afternoon sun (perhaps from another plant in your garden, or your house..or an overgrown garden gnome....watch out!)
Dappled Sun
A beautiful term in itself, this means the sunlight that scatters through
branches of decidous trees. Some plants like to bask in this dappled sunlight all day long (lucky bastards).
Full Shade
No more than 3 hours of sunlight per day. This does not mean no sun! We are growing plants, not mushrooms!
Hopefully an explanation of these terms will help you next time you enter the nursery scouting for shrubs of all kinds. Keep in mind how much sun your site gets, what type of sun, and the intended style of your garden, next time you compare the plants' suitability for sun.
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