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South facing garden sun


South-facing gardens – the best plants and layouts to make your space work

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A south-facing garden is ultra desirable in the UK. And a back garden with this aspect will receive the most hours of sunlight compared to other garden aspects. A south-facing garden is warmer and can make growing plants easier, too.

In fact, a south-facing garden is so in demand that homes with one are priced higher when they’re sold – by seven per cent on average across the UK – and take less time to sell in most regions, according to Rightmove*.

If you want to make the most of a south-facing space with the best garden design or, you’re thinking of buying a home with one of these, we’ve got everything you need to know below.

Best south-facing garden plants

As a general rule, pick garden plants that need full sun and warm temperatures for a south-facing garden. When you’re planning the planting, bear in mind that you should opt for the plants that love heat the most in the centre of the garden as shade won’t be cast here. 

Popular choices you might want to include in your south-facing garden include flowers such as:

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Think about including architectural plants too. Agave, cordylines and hardy palms could all make attractive inclusions in a modern garden scheme.

When it comes to climbers, you could choose honeysuckle, clematis, wisteria and climbing roses. Shrubs and trees that can thrive in a south-facing garden include lavender, buddleja, and crab apple. 

If you want to grow vegetables in south-facing garden, go for tomatoes, peppers, aubergines and squash, which can thrive in the heat. You might like to try including fruit, too, such as raspberries and growing strawberries.

Meanwhile, to flavor your food with ingredients fresh from your south-facing garden, go for rosemary, sage, thyme and oregano which should all grow well here.

(Image credit: Unsplash/Csaba Talaber)

Advantages of south-facing gardens

Before we get into the list of major plus points that come with a south-facing garden, let’s take a little look at the details of a south-facing aspect. First of all, it’s important to note that we – and estate agents – are considering the back garden when we talk about a south-facing garden.

If you stood by the outside wall at the rear of your home with your phone’s (or any other) compass in hand, and looked to see which way south is, it would be directly ahead of you.

The result of this south-facing aspect is that there will be lots of sunlight and little shade at the back of your house. 

For lovers of outdoor living spaces, maximum sunshine is the first major advantage of a south-facing garden. That means you can enjoy the sun in your garden for more hours of the day than owners of homes with gardens with other orientations. It will likely be warmer earlier in the year than a garden with another aspect, too. 

Bear in mind that there is some shade in a south-facing garden. The far boundary of the garden faces north so will be mostly shaded throughout the day. The boundary on the left as you stand at the back of the house looking down the garden will be in shade in the morning, and the boundary on the right will be in shade in the evening.

A south-facing garden can provide good growing conditions for a wide variety of plants as above.

There’s a garden maintenance advantage to having a south-facing garden, too which most garden designers will tell you. Patios and decks will stay cleaner in one of these so you’ll have to spend less time getting rid of moss.

A south-facing garden can also prove an advantage when it comes to your laundry. Clothes will dry quickly out here, so you can avoid the extra cost on your utility bills that comes with putting them into a dryer.

(Image credit: Leigh Clapp)

Disadvantages of south-facing gardens

Some of the advantages of a south-facing garden could turn out to be disadvantages, of course. When temperatures heat up, you could find your coveted south-facing space is actually too hot to sit in. When you’re considering your garden design make sure you plan in shaded garden seating and dining areas so you can retreat to them and still enjoy being outside.

A covered patio space could help and it’s the same for garden plants. Some of them won’t enjoy the growing conditions of a south-facing garden. When it comes to flowers, foliage an. (see more below).

A south-facing garden may require more from you when it comes to watering, too, because the soil is drier. 

(Image credit: Future x Centaur Archive)

What about gardens that don’t face directly south?

We’ve let you know about the pros and cons of a garden that faces south, but how about those that don’t face that way directly, but instead have a south-east or south-west aspect?

Many people are fans of south-west facing gardens because they get afternoon and evening sun, so you can benefit from time spent outdoors when work is finished for the day.  

A garden that faces south east benefits from morning sun, so if you like the idea of breakfast alfresco, one of these could make you happy.

(Image credit: Fiona Walker-Arnott)

*Rightmove measured average asking prices of 396,158 listings of three and four bedroom houses that came to market between July 2019 and June 2020. 

Sarah is a freelance journalist and editor writing for websites, national newspapers, and magazines. She’s spent most of her journalistic career specialising in homes – long enough to see fridges become smart, decorating fashions embrace both minimalism and maximalism, and interiors that blur the indoor/outdoor link become a must-have. She loves testing the latest home appliances, revealing the trends in furnishings and fittings for every room, and investigating the benefits, costs and practicalities of home improvement. It's no big surprise that she likes to put what she writes about into practice, and is a serial house revamper. For Realhomes.com, Sarah reviews coffee machines and vacuum cleaners, taking them through their paces at home to give us an honest, real life review and comparison of every model.

Pros And Cons Of A South Facing Garden

If you’re on the lookout for a new property, you may be wondering what the pros and cons of a south facing garden are.

It’s one of those things that’s often touted as the holy grail of property hunting.

But, is having a south facing garden worth paying extra for or should you save your cash? Let’s take a look.

What Does ‘A South Facing Garden’ Mean?

A property with a south facing garden is simply when the garden of the property faces mostly south.

It is usually the rear garden that’s considered for this description since that’s the garden most people spend their time in.

The garden could be slightly off facing southwards and still be classed as ‘south-facing’.

Anything from South-East through to South-West can be described as south-facing.

How To Tell If A Garden Is South Facing

Most estate agents will mention if a garden is considered south-facing due to the extra appeal it creates.

However, there is no harm checking properties you are interested in yourself.

One of the easiest ways is to go to Google Maps and find the property you want to investigate. Switch to the ‘Satellite View’ and zoom in until the garden is clearly visible.

Avoid rotating the map, the default position of a Google Map is that North is at the top and South is at the bottom. Therefore, if the garden is facing the bottom of the screen, it’s south-facing.

You can also tell simply by standing in the garden and looking where the sun is.

The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, so if you stand facing the end of the garden and the sun rises to your left and sets to your right, you are facing south.

At its highest point, the sun is directly south. That’s why having a garden facing the south is usually considered preferable to a north facing garden.

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Advantages Of A South Facing Garden

So, let’s get on to the main pros and cons of a south facing garden, starting with the ‘pros’.

There are a number of advantages, including:

Of course, there are other advantages of a south facing garden but that covers some of the main ones.

Disadvantages Of A South Facing Garden

But, it’s not all plain sailing.

There are also a number of disadvantages, including:

Therefore it’s clear, it’s not always the case that a south facing garden is best.

If you do have a garden that faces south then you’ll probably need to invest in some form of sun shade like these on Amazon in order to protect your furniture.

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Do South Facing Gardens Get Evening Sun?

The great thing about a south facing garden is that you get the sun all day long. In the morning, the sun will rise to your left. In the evening the sun will be to your right.

Providing there are no large obstacles to the sides of your garden, you will get morning, afternoon, and evening sun if your garden faces south.

So, What Is The Best Way For A Garden To Face?

As you can see, there are several pros and cons of a south facing garden which makes it hard to determine which is the best way for a garden to face.

Some would argue that south facing is always best so you can enjoy the sunlight at any time of the day.

Some would argue that a west facing garden is better for sitting in the evening sun. Others will prefer an east facing garden for sitting and having breakfast in the sun.

Generally, most people try and avoid north facing rear gardens simply because of the lack of sunlight.

Ultimately which is right for you will depend on exactly what you’re looking for and what you use your garden for.

Does Having A South Facing Garden Affect The Value Of A Property?

Because having a south facing garden is often cited as a big positive when estate agents are writing the property description, most people believe it adds value to a home.

While it’s true that it may help the property appeal to more people compared to say a north facing garden, it doesn’t necessarily push up the value of the house.

In fact, a study by Direct Line found that, on average, a property with a south facing garden only sells for around 0.37% more than one without.

That’s compared to houses with river views increasing the value by around 9%.

So, as you can see, there are plenty of pros and cons of a south facing garden, but an increased property value doesn’t appear to be one of them.

For that reason, you are best off just choosing whether or not a southerly facing rear garden is on your ‘must-have’ list based on its own merits rather than its price.

If you’d like to know what could affect the price you pay for a property, check out our article entitled ‘What Affects The Price Of A House?‘.

Sun-loving garden plants: perennial and annual flowers, shrubs and trees

The sun is essential for plant life. But the rule “the more the better” does not always work. A site that is completely open to the sun's rays has a number of disadvantages. Mastering it is not so easy. Not all plants are suitable for this location. Let's figure out what moments it is important not to miss when planting flowers and shrubs in the sun, and what types to choose for an open space.

Ann-Marie Powell Gardens Ltd

Advantages and disadvantages of a sunny site
The main advantages of a place exposed to the sun is good warming, due to which quite heat-loving plants can grow here. A large amount of sunlight creates good conditions for plant nutrition and is suitable for many flowering species. The sun's rays dry the soil and leaves well, acting as a natural disinfectant. Due to this, there is a much lower chance of developing putrefactive processes and fungal diseases than in damp shady areas. This creates favorable conditions for the good development of many species, but also turns into a number of problems that will require attention. nine0003

Laara Copley-Smith Garden & Landscape Design

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Things to consider when planting plants in the sun
1. Intense heating leads to overdrying of the soil and burns. Not all plants can endure a dry and hot microclimate. They tolerate such conditions well even without additional measures:

The Outdoor Room, LLC

Rollin Landscape Design

Most of the steppe and desert plants have just such qualities, sometimes several of them at once.

Blooming Toronto

To expand the range of species and make an open sunny place more comfortable, it is worth artificially adjusting the humidity balance. A well-thought-out automatic watering system will help ensure the regularity of watering. When choosing its type, keep in mind that sprinkling in an open sunny place can only be done in the early morning (before sunrise) and late evening hours. Otherwise, drops of water that will settle on the plants will cause burns. nine0003

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How to drink: We are planning an irrigation system for the site

A pond or fountain will help increase the overall humidity in an open area. When placing the pond in the sun, count on the fact that you will have to control its overgrowth - aquatic plants will develop especially intensively. Creating artificial water movement will help solve this problem. For a fountain, a sunny spot is the best position. Light and water jets will decorate the space with moving highlights, and the smallest drops will increase humidity. But when placing plants, be aware of the drift of water by the wind - arrange flower beds so that water does not moisten the leaves. nine0003

Petriv Landscape Designe

2. In sunny areas, snow melts earlier in spring. This may seem like an advantage, but it actually poses a danger to the plants. They are exposed ahead of time and lose their snow protection at a time when the air temperature is still low and there is a threat of frost. In such places, many plants will need additional protection. However, there is a risk here too: shelters in a sunny place get very warm and the plants can dry out. In such cases, it is especially important to regulate the temperature under the shelters by ventilation, that is, spring worries are added. nine0009

Jeffrey Gordon Smith Landscape Architecture

3. The significant contrast between day and night temperatures also poses a threat. In a sunny place, it is especially sharp. And it's not just about early spring. In our far from southern regions, the period of cold nights lasts as early as early June and returns as early as August. Many thermophilic plants suffer from such a temperature contrast. In addition to choosing zoned varieties, placing flower beds near walls that accumulate heat and then give it away will help. Large stones will also help with this: rockery is a good choice for a sunny flower garden. nine0003

ETs Ekopochva-LD

4. Due to temperature contrasts, spring protection against burns should be taken especially seriously. Conifers in open areas suffer greatly from the active sun, combined with still low temperatures.

Avant Garden

5. Many thermophilic species are afraid of drafts. Cold winds are detrimental to them. Therefore, a sunny flower garden should be protected from the wind. This will help placing it under the cover of walls or arrays of shrubs. Protecting the entire area with hedges also helps. nine0003

Kingfisher Landscape

Tip: To expand your planting options for a sunny flower garden, consider protecting species that like good light but suffer from overheating during the midday hours. Plant them under cover of tall sun-loving plant species - on their northern side. They will shade the neighbors during the hottest hours.

Anderson Lawn Care

With these risks and protective measures in place, a sunny location allows for a bright and lush flower garden with a long flowering period. Many sun-loving plants for the garden - perennial and annual flowers, shrubs and others - look very unusual and even exotic. And the range of species suitable for active sun is quite wide. To create a memorable and harmonious composition in a sunny place, you can use one of several scenarios that are different in their imagery. nine0003

Arteza Company

Maki-Luki Landscape Bureau

1. Rosary
An open sunny place is necessary for growing roses. In order for plants to be healthy and bloom intensively (after all, this is why we love roses), they need enough light and good nutrition. No matter what forms and varieties we are talking about, a sunny location will be optimal. However, when creating a rose garden in our latitudes, you will have to remember all the safety measures that I have listed: winter shelter, sufficient humidity and protection from the wind. If you supplement them with the basic requirements of agricultural technology - nutritious soil, respect for planting distances and proper pruning, then the rose garden in a sunny area will be able to show all its beauty. nine0003

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Kate GULD GARDENS

2 Mediterranean SAD

the plot is a good opportunity to create a Mediterranean-style garden with bright colors and southern relaxation. Sun-loving plants typical of the Mediterranean do not hibernate here - they can be used in an annual crop. Here you have a choice of popular flowering annuals, seedlings of which you can easily find in spring in garden centers: petunia (Petunia), sutera (Sutera), ampelous lobelia (Lobelia), pelargonium (Pelargonium), balsams (Impatiens) and others. Some southern sun-loving flowers for the garden grow with us as indoor ones - you can simply take them outside for the summer (do not forget that this should be done gradually, having endured the hardening period). Azalea (Azalea), bougainvillea (Bougainvillea), begonia (Begonia) will decorate the flower garden in summer and return indoors in winter. Other species can be replaced by plants adapted to our climate, which, meanwhile, bear a completely southern imagery. To create a Mediterranean mood, use sea buckthorn (Hippophae), willow (Salix) and silver goof (Elaeagnus argentea). nine0003

Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design LLC

Flowers include mallows (Alcea), daylilies (Hemerocallis), onions (Allium), verbenas (Verbena), clematis (Clematis), climbing honeysuckles (Lonicera). Sage (Salvia), hyssop (Hyssopus), veronica (Veronica), catnip (Nepeta), oregano (Origanum), Perovskia (Perowskia), lobelia - brilliant (Lobelia fulgens), sessile (Lobelia sesilifolia) and blue (Lobelia siphilitica) will complete the picture. ). They, in combination with silvery, as if dusted plants, will create a special atmosphere in the gardens of Provence. nine0003

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12 attributes of a Provence style garden

Perfectly fits into the Mediterranean imagery and balances the moisture of a fountain or wall cascade. For decoration and decoration in such a landscape, use terracotta, mosaics and natural stone. nine0003

Debra Lee Baldwin

3. Exotic Garden
In a hot, sunny place, you can create a real collection of exotic plants - in an annual crop or in a pot. Canna, kniphofia, bougainvillea, fuchsia, hibiscus will add southern luxury to the landscape and become spectacular accents. Many natives of the south with a rhizome that does not winter in the ground have not been exotic for us for a long time, but they will completely complement their company: do not forget about such sun-loving flowers for the garden as gladioli (Gladiolus), dahlias (Dahlia), amaranths (Amaranthus). Supplement them with flowering annuals: already familiar begonias (Begonia) and balsams (Impatiens), petunias (Petunia), pelargoniums (Pelargonium) and others. nine0003

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Tropical paradise at hand: A resort on a summer cottage

4. Village or meadow flower garden
Such a flower garden is a splash of bright colors and multicolor. A sunny position will only enhance the riot of flowering. It’s good if it blooms throughout the warm season - choose plants for the flower bed that replace each other. The range of suitable species is very wide and allows you to change both the color scheme and the image of the flower garden.

Jocelyn H. Chilvers

Sun-loving perennial flowers: mallows (Alcea), lupins (Lupunus), delphinium (Delphinium), foxglove (Digitalis), ornamental onions (Allium), yarrow (Achillea), barkwort (Knautia), cornflower (Centaurea), flax (Linum ), bluebell (Campanula), kosmos (Cosmos), echinacea (Echinacea), rudbeckia (Rudbeckia), gaillardia (Gaillardia), marigolds (Tagetes), nivyanik (Laucenthemum).

The names of some speak for themselves: sunflower (Helianthus), helenium (Helenium), heliopsis (Heliopsis), helianthemum (Helianthemum), helichrysum (Helichrysum) - they all have the sun in their name and prefer to grow in its rays. nine0003

Karena Batstone Design

5. Grass garden
Grasses are true lovers of the sun. Only a few of them are ready to put up with penumbra. Most tolerate dryness well and are undemanding to watering. Therefore, an open sunny area is a great opportunity to create a composition of cereals. In terms of expressiveness, it is not inferior to a bright flower garden. The variety of species allows you to select a variety of color combinations. Moreover, the cereal garden retains its decorative effect all year round, decorating the site even in winter. And how beautiful are the cereals, illuminated by the morning or evening sun! Even if you are not ready to use only cereals, they will be a great addition to other sunny compositions. nine0003

Dig Your Garden Landscape Design

6. Arid desert composition
In an open arid place, you can create an unusual garden, as if transferred from the desert or from a rocky mountain slope. Use succulents for this. In their fleshy leaves, they are able to accumulate moisture, and therefore are completely undemanding to watering and soil. Despite the fact that many of them feel great in our latitudes and have long earned popularity, they still look exotic. nine0003

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Succulents - types, names and rules of care ) have many forms. They differ in size - from miniature plants spread on the ground to large bushy specimens that can act as tapeworms. The different shape of the leaves and the shade of flowering allows you to create a wide variety of compositions from them. Thanks to their undemanding nature and shallow root system, they are suitable for rockeries, roof gardens and planters. nine0003

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Roof garden: How to choose the right plants

GREEN LANDS garden company

Plant pines (Pinus), junipers (Juniperus), arborvitae (Thuia), larches (Larix), microbiota (Microbiota). When creating a coniferous composition in an open area, combine plants with different crown shapes: narrow verticals and tall conical varieties will become accents, plant outstretched forms in their roots, complementing the composition with spherical and ovoid plants. However, when creating a coniferous garden in the sun, remember about spring protection - these plants are especially susceptible to burns with spring temperature differences and active sun. nine0003

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Conifers in the Garden: Selection and Use

Unique by Design

It is in the sun that they fully reveal their varietal properties, while in the shade, many of them (especially yellow and variegated forms) lose their unusual pattern. There are many decorative leaf varieties both among shrubs and among herbaceous plants. A large number of decorative forms are famous for garden shrubs such as barberry (Berberis), spirea (Spiraea), white derain (Cornus alba), viburnum vesicle (Physocarpus opulifolius). Among the herbs, the multi-colored color of the leaves is distinguished by the lamb (Lamium), perilla (Perilla), hybrid coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata), tenacious (Ajuga). nine0003

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The most beautiful plants for a garden with ornamental foliage - types and care - aquatic plants in this position will develop especially intensively. But it is the solar pond that is suitable for growing beautiful nymphs (Nymphaea). Due to the variety of shapes and colors, water lilies or water lilies are not in vain considered favorites among aquatic plants. In a sunny place, you can collect a whole collection of these beautiful flowers. Other flowering aquatic species will also thrive in full sun and provide a wonderful backdrop for the vibrant nymphaeum flowers. nine0003

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ends in water: decorative plants for decorating a pond

Bliss Garden Design, LLC

Premier Green Landscaping

10. Aromatic garden
The bright sun is an ideal condition for creating aroma space . Many aromatic plants are native to the southern regions and require an open location. Here their growth is especially intense, and the aroma is revealed to the maximum. Most of the spice plants are grown as an annual crop and a significant part of them are used as food. An excellent solution for them would be a container garden or mobile flower beds near the summer dining or recreation area. Plant lavender (Lavandula), sage (Salvia), thyme (Thymus), hyssop (Hyssopus), basil (Ocimum), coriander (Coriandrum) and others for decoration and fragrance. nine0003

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Good to know: 8 main taboos when growing herbs

Karena Batstone Design

YOUR TURN…
YOUR TURN…

Do you use them to create southern compositions or do you leave them for growing vegetables? Show us sun-loving plants - flowers and shrubs, - growing in your garden. Post your photos in the comments section. nine0054

flowers that are not afraid of the heat - Roomble.com

Garden and plot

2020-08-16T05:15:00+00:00 2020-08-16T09:08:01+00:00 13 ideas for a flower bed in the sun: flowers that are not afraid of the heat 2020-08-16T05:15:00+00:00 Do the plants in your area “burn” from the sun every summer? We talk about flowers that are not afraid of the heat: 13 sun-loving plants, thanks to which your flowering garden will retain its beauty even in the sun 13 ideas for a flower bed in the sun: flowers that are not afraid of the heat nine0003

Do the plants in your garden “burn” from the sun every summer? We talk about flowers that are not afraid of the heat: 13 sun-loving plants, thanks to which your flowering garden will retain its beauty even in the sun which summer residents from many regions experienced this year. So that the garden continues to delight you with its beauty and freshness, we choose flowers for our sunny areas that are not afraid of heat. nine0003

Beautiful perennial flower that is not afraid of sun, heat and drought. The bright "suns" of gaillardia will decorate your flower beds in the open field all summer and until the very frost.

Known for its beneficial properties, thyme is another great plant for a sunny area. This ground cover non-capricious perennial covers the area with a dense beautiful carpet that blooms in July.

Medicinal plant with beautiful chamomile flowers feels great in the sun. Undemanding perennial blooms from late June to mid-autumn. nine0003

The plant hardly tolerates cold, so it is often planted as an annual. The height of red valerian can reach one meter. The flowering period is from June to September.

Another perennial flower grown in cold regions as an annual. In order for the vervain in the flower bed not to lose its decorative effect, you will have to mulch, pick off faded buds and weed single bushes. The flowering period is from June to frost.

Sun-loving, spectacular decorative poppies are able to "swing out" up to a meter in height. Flowers begin to form as early as June. The plant is distinguished by a wide palette of shades and a short flowering period, unpretentiousness. nine0003

Editor's note:

— Despite the resistance of plants to heat and drought, we must not forget about the elementary care that will prolong flowering: regular watering, fertilizing, loosening the soil and timely removal of weeds of faded inflorescences will not be superfluous. Do not forget also about mulching, which will protect against moisture evaporation.

Bright perennials (many are grown as annuals) for outdoor gardening. Drought-resistant, unpretentious sunflowers love timely watering and top dressing. nine0003

An annual plant with delicate, beautiful flowers that blooms in the garden from June to early October.

An exquisite stock rose, ideal for a summer cottage landscape on the sunny side.

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