Many times, homeowners neglect to consider the orientation of garden when choosing plants. This decision can have a significant impact on the health and happiness of your plants!
For instance, a south-facing garden will be rich in sunlight, while a north-facing garden will receive very little. So, if you plant a shade loving plants in the south, they'll likely die from too much sun exposure! So, considering gardens orientation is super important in choosing plants for your home garden!
By the end of this article, you will learn the various orientations of gardens and how the gardens orientation affect plant selection.
To determine your gardens orientation or direction with precision, use a compass! If you don't have a compass, you can easily download a compass app in your phone, and you are ready to go. Stand in front of the wall that backs up to your house-the reading from here tells you direction your garden faces.
Besides deciding which way your garden faces, consider what other trees or structures might cast shadows throughout the day at different times of year.
While having a shaded area can obstruct natural light and longer water retention, these conditions also open up opportunities like being able to grow plants from cooler parts of the world!
Here are some of the north facing landscape ideas-
North facing gardens receive the least amount of sun. So it's important to make sure your plants can tolerate these conditions. It's difficult to keep plants alive in shaded areas of your garden, but there are some that will thrive.
Some shade-tolerant plants suitable for shady spaces include ferns and ivy with their interesting shapes and textures. Plant these on the ground or hung from trees near a wall where they'll get maximum sunlight exposure through windows nearby!
Another important thing to know would be to determine whether that shade comes from moist soil or dry soil.
Plants that need moist soil will thrive better in wetter conditions, while plants requiring less moisture or sunlight can be planted more easily where there's not as much available water or light.
There are several shade-tolerant plants suitable for these areas. Some people choose ferns, but it is important to consider factors such as the type and pH of soil in addition to exposure to sunlight when choosing which plant will work best with your garden's needs.
There are also plenty of edibles that can make their home in shade and flourish all year long! For example - hostas are one such plant to consider planting as they grow well with less light than other plants.
But don't let yourself be limited by leafy greens alone; try adding some herbaceous perennials like lavender or artemisia (commonly called wormwood) to both attract pollinators and keep pests away from the vegetables you'll want growing nearby!
Here are some of the best plants to grow in north facing garden:
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west, moving between two via south. So if your garden is south facing, it will be bathed by sunshine all day long!
More sun means more heat, which can be a good thing if you're looking for an area to grow vegetables that thrive in warmer climates like tomatoes or peppers. But it also means that the garden will dry out faster and need watering often!
So make sure your soil is well-draining before planting anything here or else risk having plants wilt in this hot environment without sufficient water.
Consider water-wise garden plants like succulents, cacti, and drought-tolerant shrubs. These plants are perfect for south-facing gardens because they can withstand the heat and dryness.
If these plants are not your cup of tea, then consider chamomile as an alternative; its flowers are pretty but also provide natural insect repellant qualities - so no more pesky bugs!
South facing garden has a tendency to turn brown in hot summer weather. This means south facing garden is baked by the summer sun. In this scenario, creating some shade for plants may be a good idea.
Trees can cast a dappled shade on plants to reduce water loss so you might consider fruit or nut trees as well as other ornamental trees like magnolia that provide shelter from the scorching sun during midday hours.
Here are some of the best plants to grow in south facing garden:
East-facing gardens are for those who love a lush, beautiful space that you can enjoy all year round. Afternoon shade protects them from the hot afternoon rays while evening shades enhance white flowers' ability to attract pollinating moths in order to make an extraordinarily well designed garden fit just for you!
As you'll have at least 6 hours of sun every day (and more intense light during your morning and afternoon), this space will be ideal for carrots, beets, leafy greens that like some sunshine but are sensitive to hot afternoon rays - all while getting great shade from strong evening or midday sunlight!
You can also add peppers and tomatoes as well if there's enough room on your plot.
Here are some of the best plants to grow in east facing garden:
If you have east facing windows, these are also the best plants for east facing windows.
If you have a garden with west-facing views, your plants will get plenty of direct sunlight. So, you need to provide some shade, especially if you have sun-sensitive flowers/vegetables.
West-facing garden is a great place to plant summer flowers, such as camellias and verbena bonairiensis.
You can also grow some heat loving vegetables like tomatoes, squash or peppers in your vegetable patch!
Here are some of the best plants to grow in west facing garden:
The best thing about gardening is that there's no wrong way; if you have an idea or preference on what type of garden would suit your needs most, then go ahead!
We hope this blog helps you plan your garden. You can also use these tips when designing other parts of your property like patios or terraces too - the options truly are endless!
We wish you Happy Gardening!
Want to know more about Indoor Gardening? Read this blog "Indoor Gardening Without Soil is Hot and Here's Why?"
