The amount of sunlight a location gets is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing new plants for your garden. If plants receive too much or not enough sun than they prefer, they may not look as good or be as healthy. All plants can be classified into three categories based upon how much sun they prefer; the sun, part sun, and shade. Increase your gardening success by choosing plants that will thrive in the amount of sun they will receive. Here are some tips to help you determine how much sunlight you have in your garden.

Full sun, part sun, shade… That’s the question and here’s the answer

Full sun – Defined as 6 or more hours of direct sun during mid-day hours of 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.
Part sun/shade – Part sun and part shade are the same. The area receives 4 to 6 hours of direct sun
Shade – Receives less than 4 hours of direct sun

It is all in the timing… When is the sun shining?

Consider the timing of the sun in an area. The mid-day sun is the strongest of the day. The afternoon sun is stronger than the morning sun. Here are some possible scenarios and how we would classify them.
Part sun for shade lovers – If you receive 3 hours of morning sun with 3 hours of the evening sun, even though that equals 6 hours of direct sun, it is at times when the sunlight is weaker. You may need to choose plants more adapted to shadier conditions.
Part sun for shade lovers – An area that receives sun from sunup till 12:00 PM may be considered part sun because 3 of those hours are during the hours with the weakest sunlight.
Part sun for sun lovers – An area gets sun from 10:00 AM till 1:00 PM. Be careful not to choose plants that prefer part sun to shade. The strong sun will likely burn the foliage. Choose plants that prefer sun to part sun.
Full sun – If an area receives sun from 12:00 PM till sundown you will be able to choose plants that do well in full sun. There are 6 or more hours of stronger sunlight.

Symptoms of too much or not enough sunlight

  • Not enough light
  • Less intense fall color
  • Greener leaf color on plants with gold or red leaf color
  • Fewer or no flowers
  • Weak, spindly, and slow growth
  • Lack of vigor with plant failing over time
  • More prone to disease and pest problems

Too much sun

  • Scorched foliage
  • Poor growth
  • Extreme wilting when soil is moist

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