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Sun mapping a south-west facing garden

bessie.norman83060bessie.norman83060 Posts: 2
in Garden design
Hi! I’m a beginner gardener who is going to move into a new property in late December which has a South-West facing garden in London. I’m struggling to work out how the sun/shadows will land in order to plan my border plant positioning, to avoid any overly shady spots. 
I have found advice online for South and West facing gardens, but not South-West.
I’m eager to work this out before the spring/summer, as I’m planning to risk planting my spring bulbs in the borders in late December, as I won’t be able to do it any sooner unfortunately.
Please see photos attached, any advice would be much appreciated! 

Posts

  • BenCottoBenCotto Posts: 4,718
    edited November 2023
    I don’t know if it will help but take a look at the Shadowmap app. There are other sun/shadow plotting apps too.

    https://shadowmap.org/
    Rutland, England
  • ViewAheadViewAhead Posts: 866
    Hi, Bessie ... and welcome! 🙂

    A new garden!  How exciting.  The south-westerly aspect will give you lots of scope.  There does not appear to be any tall buildings around you to cast shade, or any dense hedges, etc.  Almost all your garden should get a good amount of sun, being shadiest first thing in the morning.  

    I don't think you need to worry too much about there not being enough sun.  Most plants find 6 hrs or so a day plenty.  Possibly avoid plants that like full shade.

    Sunlight is not the only factor, of course.  The condition of the soil will matter a lot, as will its moisture level.

    If it were me, I think I would put the bulbs in pots for now and then gradually get to know the space as the seasons unfold next yr.  You won't get everything right first time.  Gardening is trial and error.  

    Enjoy!  
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    edited November 2023
    I wouldn’t be too concerned about snowdrops and narcissus and daffodils … they won’t mind a bit of shade at all. Put tulips in pots so you can move them about a bit to chase the sun while you learn about your garden. 🌷 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    edited November 2023
    Hello Bessie. I agree with Dove,put the bulbs in pots for now,of course, now the clocks have changed,you will get different sun/shade ratio after March.  As well as this,you will need to know your soil type.I am going to stick my neck out,and say your first priority is, find out who is responsible for the fencing and get that sorted/repaired/replaced.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I thought the fencing looked quite good. 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    The strut holding up the fence would be better placed on the upright,  rather than the cross pieces, as you see, the strut gone right through it. The shrub in the corner could be the culprit,  the previous owners had planted it too close. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • raisingirlraisingirl Posts: 7,093
    Assuming your house is in the middle of a terrace, and that it is true south west facing (a plan shot from Google Earth would help), I would say your garden will be in shade in summer until mid morning - 10am maybe - then in sunshine until mid afternoon, when the big trees to the west will start to create dappled shade and then around 7pm or so the sun will go behind the houses again.
    In winter you'll probably get whatever sun there is from sunrise to sunset if the leaves come off that tree to the south east. If it's an evergreen it'll shade the back of your house but not the bottom of your garden.
    The houses south west of you won't give you any shade. The fence at the bottom of your garden will shade a strip in front of it roughly equal to the height of the fence most of the year - a bit less in summer, more in winter
    Gardening on the edge of Exmoor, in Devon

    “It's still magic even if you know how it's done.” 
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    The last fence panel on the right is completely detached 
  • bessie.norman83060bessie.norman83060 Posts: 2
    Hi, thank you for all of your advice! We have now moved in and it has all been really helpful with garden planning. Unfortunately with it being rented accommodation we're restricted in some ways but seems like we definitely have options, will see how this year goes. 
    (thankfully the fence was also replaced, finally!)
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Good luck with it @bessie.norman83060. Hope you enjoy making your adjustments, and also making it 'your own' with some new plants. A good result getting the fence done too!
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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