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Full or partial sun?
michael 58
Posts: 45
in Talkback
Hello All. Can you advise?
To cut it short, does the term "partial sun" describe the length of time a spot is hit by the rays of the sun or is it that the area is obscured somewhat? By trees perhaps, as is my case. Is it a time or density factor?
I know my herbs for example like full sun, but sadly by half past 4, the trees all but hide the suns rays.
0
Posts
Michael, A fully South Facing Garden would get full sun from sun up to sunset, in some seasons that would be almost desert conditions with the need for sun loving plants.
My Garden is South facing although the house on the East side blocks off the sun until around 09-30 then it gets the sun all day until the last rays at sun set.
On the South boundary is a 4 foot fence so that border is sheltered from the sun until around 15-00 hours so is partial sun. The front lawn is on the East side so gets the sun from sun up to around 11-00 hours, partial sun. The North side of the house has a wall away from the house that gets the first sun, then is blocked until 15-30 hours until sun set so partial to full sun and my Herb bed is in that plot and thrives, Partial to full sun I call it and the ground is very dry, I need watch the watering.
Full sun is all day or nearly all day, Partial sun can vary from a few hours or depending on what will cast a shadow on that part of the garden. Shade is my South fence behind which the sun only reaches at the end of the day for a hour or so.
Hope this helps.
Frank.
Thank you Frank, thats a great and informative answer.
I fear then ive been looking at things a tad different. I mean yes i do get full sun on my plants at some point but only from about 11 til half past 4. After this time theres a faint glimmer of sun peeping through tree foliage.
I really should be looking for partial sun classed plants then. Damn.
Do you know Michael, i take no notice of sun or not, I plant what i like, where i like, almost everything is lovely and grows well. my bergenia, pulmanaria, hostas and that bleeding heart thingy, cant remember the name, all shade plants grow beautifully in the full sun. I do have piccys to back that up.
and I grow things that 'should' be in full sun in partial shade. Equal success.
In the sticks near Peterborough
11am until 4.30pm is fine, they get sun during the sunniest part of the day.
To be honest ive not really planted much other than bulbs (novice stuff) that have done fairly well during this spring. I do however have lots and lots of potted items to later find a permanent spot for in the ground. All my pots contain full sun catergories and ive been known to juggle them around during certain parts of the day in an attempt to follow the best rays (my neighbours must think im mental)
Im sure though Lizzie is quite correct, albeit 11 til 4:30 seems a relatively short period, it is the best part of the day and the pots do get a decent uninterupted soaking from the sun during this period..... when it decides to show itself
And yes plants do adapt surely? This is the 1st year that ive taken it so seriously and i do so want my plants to have a good start in life. Overmothering?
I think gardening is a bit like having children.
The first one you need everything, new if you can and when you go out you take everthing but the kitchen sink.
When number 2 comes along, you make do with what you have
Days out involve a bag with some bits in.
When number 3 comes along, you're not so fussy, second hand will do,( i bought a cot for 50p for my grandson) days out are a couple of nappies and a pack of wet wipes,
so back to gardening, you need to do every right at first, just like the baby, buy all the gear, most of which you wont use, as the years go on its bung it in and hope for the best, plants, like children will mostly come good in the end, whatever.
...... then they propagate and have children of their own......
Michael, five and a half hours in my book is full sun, light is the essential be it dappled or full. My Herbs recommended in books as full sun and dry soil well drained and not too rich thrive. The soil is dry and the sun is shaded by the house for half the day so are the books wrong no, I have learned over many years what I can grow where and it works, our own experience is what counts. There are plants that need full sun but if we had an overnight frost they do not want early morning sun, that is what kills the plant thawing too quickly. Gardening is the proverbial minefield what works is because your position is right in my case out of the bitter Northerly winds and a brick wall to take in heat and give it back. There will be lots of advice and most of it will be correct for that persons particular garden, we can only take the bits that appertain to our own environment.
Frank.