Sunlight is Important!

 As you most likely know, sunshine plays a vital role in the lives of plants, but not always in the same way for all plants. Some plants are sun lovers, others not so much. Thus, a key aspect of creating a successful landscape plan is to know where to put your sun-seeking plants and where to put your shade-tolerant plants, depending on the particular characteristics of your property. At Brady’s West, we classify our plants—annuals, perennials, shrubs, and trees as being either “Full Sun” or “Partial to Full Sun” plants. Here’s what that means:

Full Sun—Any area that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight, with the bulk of the sunshine coming in the afternoon.

Partial to Full Sun—Any area that receives at least 4 hours of direct sun, with most of the sunshine occurring during the morning, when the sun’s rays are less direct and intense.

Plants that grow in partial to full sun are called shade tolerant plants. Keep in mind that shade occurs along a continuum from full shade (no direct sunlight) through dappled or light shade (sunlight is filtered through trees) to partial shade (some direct sun, generally during morning hours). Before planting, pay attention to where and how the sun’s rays hit different areas of your yard, and then landscape accordingly.