One of the beautiful things about a garden is that it’s always changing.
Change is also one of the most challenging things about gardening!
While thesoil quality might change incrementallyover a season, light levels change daily.
Credit: Bob Stefko
Pair the changing light in your garden with plants that thrive in those conditions to have the best success.
Choosing just-right plants becomes easier when you know thedifferent types of sunlight your yard gets.
Types of Sunlight for Plants
Full sun, part sun, part shadewhat does it all mean?
Denny Schrock.
Sifting throughlight requirements on plant tagsand then lining those up with the conditions in your yard can be tricky.
Heres a rundown of terms and definitions commonly used in gardening.
Full sun:six or more hours of direct sunlight per day.
Perry L. Struse.
The key word here is direct.
Sunlight is in no way obscured; it isdirectly illuminating the plant.
Part sun:4-6 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Part shade:2-4 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Shade:less than 2 hours of direct sunlight per day.
Morning vs.
Afternoon Sun
Morning sun is less intense for a plant than afternoon sun.
Plants react differently to light by region too.
A plant thatgrows in full sunin Minnesota might require afternoon shade when planted in Georgia.
Bottom line: consider your region when defining light levels in your landscape.
Each of theseeasy-care perennialsfor full sun will likely thrive in a spot that receives morning shade and afternoon sun.
Consider All the Factors
Remember, light quality is just one consideration when choosing plants.
Soil jot down, moisture availability, andwinter hardiness are other important factors to consider.
Look at all aspects of the growing area when choosing plants.
