Plants Grow Best With the Right Amount of Light
Some plants are not fussy about whether theyare planted in sun or shade, but most have a preference.When a plant doesn’t thrive, the problemmay be either too much or too little light. In this article, you’ll learn how sunlight affects plant growth, and how to match thequality of sunlightin your yard with the right types of plants.
How Intense is the Sun?
Plants experience sunlightin muchthe same way we do. Imagine sitting on a park bench with no trees nearby. If itwas 9am on a sunny day inMay and the park was in Boston, it would be a nice placeto sitfor an hour. But ifthe bench was in Houston, and it was a sunny afternoon in August, you’d be running for the shade within a couple minutes.
The point is, it’s important to think about more than just how many hours of sun a plant gets. The quality – or intensity — of that sunlight is just as critical. Latitude, season, and time of day all affect light intensity
Time of Day
In the morning and late afternoon, the sun’s rays strike the earth at a relatively low angle. At these times the light may be bright, but it’s not very intense. The sun is at its strongest when it’s high in the sky, from 11am to 3pm. As a general rule, sun-sensitive plants like begonias, prefer morning or late afternoon light andneed protection from harsh midday sun.
Latitude
Sunlight gets more intense the closer you are to the equator. This is why shade-loving plants like hostas, will tolerate more sun in the North than they will in the South. Planting and care labels rarely differentiate between growing regions, so keep in mind how your geographical location will affect the plants in your garden.
Season
The angle of the sun also changes with the time of year. This affects the intensity of the light as well as how shadows are cast. The arc of the sun is at its highest (most directly overhead) and at its most intense around the summer solstice in late June. Later in the summer, the arc is lower in the sky. This both decreases the intensity of the light and lengthens shadows. Observe your garden through the seasons so you get to know how the light moves around. This will help you match the right plants with the right location.
Standard Definitions for Sun, Part Sun and Shade
Full Sun– an area that gets unobstructed sunlightfrom dawn to dusk; as much as 15 hours of sun per day.
Sun–anarea that gets 6 or morehours of direct sunlight over the course ofthe day.
Partial Sun or Partial Shade– an area that gets 3 to 6 hours of sunlight each day.
Shade– an area that receives less than 3 hours of direct sunlightper day.
Full Shade– an area that gets no direct sunlight, butreceivesenough bright, indirect light tosupport healthygrowth.
Dappled Shade– an area beneath deciduous trees.Foliage filters incoming light, creating shifting patterns of sun and shade.
How Do You Know When the Light Isn’t Right?
All plants require sunlight to produce energy for growth and flower production. But some plants need more of it than others. Here is how torecognizewhen a plantis not receiving the right amount of light.
Too Much Sun
Fair-skinned people are easily sunburned. The sameis true for sun-sensitive plants. Too many hours of sun, orlightthat’s too intense, can bleach out the color of a plant’s flowers and foliage. Parts of the leavesmay be scorchedand the edgesmay brown and curl. Sun sensitive plants may also wilt because their foliage is trying to conserve moisture.
Not Enough Sun
When plantsare not getting enough sunlight, theymay be shorter than normal and new growthis often weak or spindly. The foliagemightbepale and limp rather than robust. Floweringcan decrease or completely stop. Sun-starved plants are also more susceptible to disease problems such as mildew.
What to Do If the Light Isn’t Right
Gardens are never static. Over time, trees and shrubs get bigger and cast more shade. Others die and let in more light.A plant that was once well matched to the light conditions in your garden,may now need to be moved.
If you suspect a plant is not getting the right amount of light, there are several things you can do. The most obvious one is to relocate the plant. If you are new to gardening, you may be reluctant to do this. But most plants are incredibly forgiving about being moved. Justavoid doingit in midsummer and/or whenaplant isflowering.
You could addan arbor or free-standing trellis to provide some additional shade. Orpositiona taller plant nearby to help block the sun. To bring in more sun, youcould prune, relocate or tie back nearby plants that are casting too much shade.
Understandinghow the qualities of sun or shadeaffect your plantswill help you have a healthier, better looking garden.
Learn more here:
Spring Bulbs for Shade
10 Easy Perennials for Sun
10 Easy Perennials for Shade
Summer Bulbs for Sun
Summer Bulbs for Shade
Easy Summer Bulbs for Sunny Containers
Easy Summer Bulbs for Shady Containers
