Full sun means a plant needs at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day — often more for vegetables like tomatoes and peppers, which prefer 8–10 hours. These spots are usually south or west-facing and warm up quickly. Partial sun/partial shade falls in the 3–6 hour range. The subtle difference: partial sun plants prefer…
The sun shifts position every season, changing light levels across your garden. Winter sun sits low = long shadows, less light. Summer sun sits high = short shadows, more light. The same spot can gain or lose 3–4 hours of sunlight between seasons. So always plan your garden layout based on year-round sunlight, not just…
Bottom line: Find where the sun hits longest, put your hungriest plants there, and work outward from that point. If you have ever planted a tomato in the wrong spot and watched it struggle all summer, you already know how much sun exposure matters. Many gardeners — beginners and experienced ones alike — make the…
Measuring garden sunlight comes down to a few simple methods: Key rule: Full sun = 6+ hours, partial = 3–6 hours, shade = under 3 hours. Measure in mid-summer on a clear day for the most accurate results. Growing a thriving garden starts long before anyone puts a seed in the ground. It starts with…
A sun calculator measures exactly how many hours of direct sunlight different parts of your yard receive. Use it to stop guessing and start matching plants correctly. Quick steps: Key tip: Remeasure with seasons—trees grow and sun angles change. Every gardener has been there. They plant a beautiful row of tomatoes in what looks like a sunny spot,…