Ever wondered what “grow in full sun” actually means? Well me too! In this article i have tried to give help understanding different growing conditions based on how much daylight a pant needs.
I’ve summarised as best I could for anyone else wondering what the growing conditions section means on plant packaging.
The list below explains all the different light conditions you will find on plant packaging. As a standard measure all light exposure is taken as midsummer BST.
Light Conditions
Full Sun
Grow in full sun means the area in which you are growing your plant should be exposed to more than six hours of direct sun per day at midsummer.
If you have recently moved and are looking to plan out a new garden it may be good to wait a while and see how the sun travels across the sky in relation to sunlight hitting your patch. This way you have a good idea as to which part of your garden get the most continuous light.
Partial or semi-shade
Three to six hours per day of direct sun at midsummer.
Midday sun supplies considerably more light than morning or evening sun and sites illuminated at the middle of the day might be considered to be in light shade. Semi-shade is a term often used by writers but not defined. It is likely to mean a situation in half sun and half shade where there is some direct sun but possibly for less than half the hours of daylight.
Moderate shade
A site receiving sunlight for two or three hours of direct sunlight each day at midsummer. In this case too midday sun supplies significantly more light and might almost be considered a form of partial shade.
Deep or heavy shade
Usually under dense tree cover, e.g. beech, conifer hedges or overgrown shrubberies, and also overhanging buildings. In practical terms if a site receives less than two hours of direct sun per day, it must be considered to be heavy shade.
Dappled shade
Mainly reflected or diffused light, for example through fairly open tree canopies all day. Dappled shade can approximate to light or open shade where sunlight filters through especially lightly branched and leaved deciduous trees such as silver birch.
Light shade
A site that is open to the sky, but screened from direct sunlight by an obstacle, such as a high wall or group of trees.
Gardens with shade
Extra tips for gardening in full sun to full shade:
Full sun:
Well-chosen plants with modest water requirements will thrive in full sun. Shade loving plants will usually only do well in sun if well-watered in summer. In winter full sun can be quite feeble and sun lovers are often grown in front of white painted walls to maximise light.
Light shade:
Mulching after planting improves water retention, and combined with autumn rather than spring planting, allows some plants to establish more effectively over winter. Many plants that don’t insist on full sun will grow well in light shade but often with reduced flowering.
Partial or semi-shade:
Many sun loving plants will survive in partial shade but usually with markedly reduced flowering. Shade loving plants will thrive. In light shade pale mulches can be used to reflect useful quantities of light back up into the canopy.
Dappled shade:
Shade loving plants will perform well, but may need watering. The addition of plenty of well-rotted farmyard manure, garden compost or leafmould will help improve soil structure and aid establishment of plants, either dug in before planting or applied as mulch every year after planting.
Moderate shade:
Shade tolerant plants will grow in moderate shade but they are usually grown for foliage more than flowers. If conditions are excessively dry or waterlogged for prolonged periods, use pots to grow plants in, keeping them well watered. Growing very close to walls (within about 40cm/ 16ins), conditions can be dry, especially if sheltered from the prevailing wind or under the eaves of buildings. So planting at least 45cm /18ins away from house walls can help.
Deep or heavy shade:
Under conifers, especially Leyland cypress, or evergreen trees such as holly, where it is dry and sheltered in summer and winter. It is likely that only a very limited selection of extremely shade tolerant plants will survive.
Growing in the shade
Shade, due to trees or buildings, is an almost inevitable part of gardens and gardening. Understanding that plants respond differently to shade and that a wide range of shade situations are likely to be encountered is invaluable in planning and planting a garden.
If i’ve missed anything off of the list above feel free to shout me (not at me) and i’ll endeavor to update the post as soon as i can. The purpose of these blog is to share information from one rookie gardener to another. Take a look at the hints and tips section of the site for plenty more on all aspects of gardening 🙂