In gardening, sunlight is everything—it’s the fuel that drives plant growth and the key to a thriving garden. But figuring out if a garden bed gets “full sun” or “shade” isn’t always as simple as looking up at the sky. To get it right, you’ll need to do some observing, take note of seasonal shifts, and maybe even get a bit creative.
We will walk you through practical tips for understanding the sun and shade patterns in your garden, making it easier to match each area with plants that will flourish there, whether they love bright light or prefer a bit more shade.
How to Determine if a Garden Bed Is Full Sun or Shade
To decide if a garden bed gets full sun or shade, you’ll need to track sunlight exposure across the day and consider seasonal changes.
Observe and Record
Note sunlight exposure at regular intervals (e.g., every 2-3 hours) throughout a clear, sunny day. Start at sunrise and continue until sunset. This allows you to record the hours of sunlight each section of the garden bed receives. Observing over multiple days can ensure accuracy and help reveal patterns, especially on cloudy days.
And utilize your phone’s camera with timestamps enabled for precise documentation. Take photos from the same angle each time to track the direction and intensity of light and shadows over the day .
Understand Sunlight Categories
- Full Sun: A garden bed gets at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day, which is generally sufficient for sun-loving plants like tomatoes, peppers, and many flowering annuals. Full sun doesn’t require continuous sunlight from sunrise to sunset but a cumulative 6+ hours is key. This could be morning and afternoon sun combined or unbroken midday sun.
- Partial Sun/Partial Shade: This refers to areas that receive 4-6 hours of sunlight per day. Partial sun often includes morning light with some afternoon shade, making it suitable for plants that can’t tolerate intense afternoon heat. Dappled sunlight, as seen under trees, also falls into this category, ideal for plants like hydrangeas or hostas.
- Full Shade: Areas with less than 4 hours of direct sunlight daily fall under full shade. Full-shade areas receive minimal direct sunlight, often shaded by buildings, trees, or other large structures, and are suitable for shade-loving plants like ferns, mosses, and certain shrubs.
Consider Seasonal Changes
The sun’s angle varies throughout the year due to seasonal shifts. In summer, it’s higher in the sky, casting shorter shadows, while in winter, it’s lower, extending shadows further. Mapping sunlight exposure during different seasons—especially summer and winter solstices—will capture these changes and help avoid unexpected shadowing .
Apps like SunCalc or SunSeeker can track the sun’s arc, showing how sunlight angles change throughout the year. This is particularly useful for anticipating light patterns in fixed garden beds, helping you decide where to plant sun-sensitive crops versus shade-tolerant plants .
Identify and Manage Obstacles:
Nearby buildings, trees, fences, and even tall plants can block sunlight. Note where and when shadows appear in your garden bed; morning shadows are often cast from the east, while afternoon shadows generally come from the west.
For areas affected by shadows, prioritize placing full-sun plants in the most consistently sunlit spots and shade-loving plants in the areas with morning or dappled light. If possible, prune back or adjust the placement of obstructing plants or structures to improve light conditions where necessary .
How to Find Plants for Your Garden’s Light Conditions
Once you know well about how sunny or shady each part of your garden is, it will be much easier to find plants that grow well in every lighting situation. Just take advantage of the approaches below:
Use Plant Labels and Garden Center Categories
Most plant labels specify light needs, often categorized as “full sun,” “partial sun,” or “shade.” Look for these indications when shopping for plants.
And many garden centers organize plants by light requirement, making it easy to find suitable options based on the conditions in your garden. Additionally, staff can often provide advice on light requirements for specific species.
Leverage Online Resources
Websites like the Missouri Botanical Garden's Plant Finder or the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map let you filter plants based on sunlight needs and other factors, including soil and climate compatibility.
Consider Microclimates and Plant Placement
Recognize areas in your garden with unique conditions, like reflected heat from a wall or cooling shade under a tree, and select plants accordingly. Use more heat-tolerant plants near walls that reflect sunlight, while cooler areas can support shade-tolerant species .
If unsure about a plant’s needs, try placing it in a few different spots before planting it permanently. Observe whether it wilts or flourishes to assess if its light needs match the location .
Plants Based on the Garden’s Light Conditions
We have a selection of plants well-suited for different light conditions for your convenience:
| Light Condition | Type | Recommended Plants |
|---|---|---|
| Full Sun | Vegetables & Herbs | Tomatoes, Peppers, Cucumbers, Zucchini, Basil, Rosemary |
| Flowers | Sunflowers, Marigolds, Lavender, Black-eyed Susans | |
| Ornamental Grasses | Fountain Grass, Blue Fescue | |
| Partial Sun/Partial Shade | Shrubs | Hydrangeas, Azaleas |
| Vegetables | Spinach, Lettuce, Swiss Chard | |
| Flowers | Bleeding Hearts, Astilbes, Columbines | |
| Full Shade | Foliage Plants | Hostas, Ferns, Caladiums |
| Flowers | Impatiens, Begonias, Coral Bells | |
| Groundcovers | Pachysandra, Periwinkle |
FAQs
What’s the best time of year to map sunlight in my garden?
The best time is mid-spring or early summer, as the sun is at its peak angle and days are longest. However, tracking sunlight in early spring and late fall also reveals seasonal shifts, especially helpful for gardens with shadows from buildings or trees.
What tools can I use to measure light exposure without taking photos all day?
Apps like SunCalc or SunSeeker use augmented reality to map the sun’s path over any given spot, showing sunlight duration and intensity throughout the year. These tools can save time while providing accurate seasonal insights.
How do I handle plants that receive too much or too little light in their current location?
If a plant receives too much sunlight, its leaves might wilt, bleach, or scorch. Moving it to a spot with partial shade or adding a shade cloth can help. Conversely, plants with insufficient light may appear“leggy”or grow slowly, in which case relocating them to a sunnier area can boost growth.
How does soil affect plants in different light conditions?
Full-sun plants often need well-draining, nutrient-rich soil since they grow faster and absorb more water. Shaded plants, on the other hand, can benefit from more moisture-retentive soil as they don’t dry out as quickly.
Can plants adapt to different light levels over time?
Some plants can adapt slightly to new light conditions but may show signs of stress or slower growth. It’s generally best to match plants to their recommended light levels rather than expecting them to adapt fully.
What types of plants can handle both full sun and shade?
Many ornamental grasses and hardy perennials like sedum, daylilies, and some varieties of echinacea can handle both sun and partial shade, making them versatile for gardens with mixed light levels.
Are there any indoor plants that thrive in low outdoor light?
Some indoor plants, like ferns, snake plants, and pothos, can tolerate low-light outdoor conditions if they’re not exposed to intense sun. However, their outdoor lifespan may vary based on weather and temperature changes.