Sun and Shade in a New Garden

The pattern of sun and shade in a garden is one of the most important things a gardener should study when first moving into a new house. It’s wise to study the exposures and which way one’s house faces whether north, south, east or west. Consider all sides of the house and the trees also and plot out where the shadows from trees and buildings will occur in winter and in summer. Watch for the way shadows move on the ground at various seasons of the year. Plotting them out and knowing where they are will help you plant accordingly. There are plenty of wonderful plants such as camellias and even some native plants such as Catalina perfume (Ribes viburnifolium) that will grow in partial shade. As a start, refer to the large box on pages 261, 262, and 263 of my new book. This box explains all the types of shade and tells you which plants will grow where. Another of my books “The American Horticultural Society Southwest SMARTGARDEN™ Regional Guide” contains lists of plants for special situations, including sun, shade, types of soil, and many other factors that involve plant choices for special needs and places. It’s chockfull of photos many of which I took in my own garden or this area.