Daylight/Sunlight and Overshadowing Analysis
CJ83
Posts: 2
Hello,
I was watching the Chelsea Flower Show earlier today and the subject of daylight/sunlight was brought up. I'm one of the few people in the UK that work in the field of daylight/sunlight analysis which generally revolves around buildings and not gardens, despite the metrics being applicable to gardens.
In short, by building a model (of the garden and surrounding dwellings, trees, etc) and running certain calculations, I can determine with a high level of accuracy, the total sunlight hours a garden receives (garden average and 'point' values) over any specified time period and also importantly, identify what areas of the garden are shaded during a specified time period.
I have assessed my own garden and have strategically placed a vegetable patch in an area which receives sunlight for nearly all available sunlight hours in May! Promising results so far.
For gardeners who have limited sunlight/overshadowing issues, this service could be of great benefit to identify what plants will flourish best, dependent on sunlight amenity/overshadowing. I have spoken with an ecologist and recommending fauna based on available sunlight amenity/overshadowing is apparently straight forward.
Does anyone anticipate a demand for such a service? I have not found anything related!
Regards,
AP
Posts
Hi AP. Can you please explain why the ecologist needed to recommend fauna. I am a little confused.
Flora!
Thanks CJ83. Obviously a typo.
You mean other than using their tried and trusted means of ... if it don't grow there, move it!
I would see this type of service as very interesting but I wouldn't pay for it (just in case this was a variable in the question).
If you were to build a database based on your findings then I think you'd find that the RHS is probably already there but you are suggesting bespoke results based on a customer's variables?
If this is the case then ....
a) the customer is an enthusiast and would do as I do and move the plant if it didn't grow.
b) the customer employs a garden designer and relies on their expertise to know what will grow where.
c) the customer is a novice and learns by their mistakes (is this your target market?).
I'm not being negative, I'm trying to help because I am interested in data collection and analysis but I also garden and I do that instinctively vs scientifically so your question interested me.
I hope this helps, it's only my opinion, others may differ.
Is this like plant feng shui?
I think there is a far more fundamental issue here, and that is that many gardeners do not fully understand the terms: full sun, partial shade, and, full shade.
When you don't even know who's in the team
S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
Don't forget that plants grow and also die - so shade/sun/part shade constantly alter over time as well. It's not as simple as just defining those areas at the starting point of building a garden from an empty plot. It's not like a room in your house which stays the same until you redecorate, it's a constantly evolving space
I can't see that anyone would pay for a service like that.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I agree with you Fairygirl. I use the clock! Note when there is sun/shade on a particular part of the garden, constantly changing with the seasons. I dont personally know anyone who had paid a garden designer, if you did I would expect them to find out these things as part of the brief.
Sorry if I sound a bit negative but it not all about the sunlight. The sunniest part of my garden is also the most exposed and can get battered when the wind picks up.
There are so many different variables to consider. Soil type, climate in your area etc....
Most gardeners will learn what works in their plot and just get on with it.