How important is it which way your garden faces? | VitalSpace (2024)

FAQs

How important is it which way your garden faces? | VitalSpace? ›

Gardens that face north receive the least light and can be damp. Gardens that face south receive the most light. Gardens that face east receive light in the morning. Gardens that face west receive light in the late afternoon and evening.

Southern facing windows will provide the most light (especially during winter). You can place all of your houseplants that love sunlight in windows facing this direction. Just remember that with a lot of sun comes higher temperatures. Be mindful of your plants and if their foliage starts to burn.

A north-south orientation is best for low-growing crops, allowing direct sunlight to reach both sides of the bed. For taller crops such as pole beans, peas and tomatoes an east west orientation works best.

The north-south orientation allows the sun to penetrate the garden by shining down the rows. This is especially helpful during the winter gardening period when the sun stays relatively low in the sky.

More often than not, homeowners are looking for spaces with lots of natural light, says Trapasso, which is what makes South-facing homes so desirable. “Southern exposure typically provides the brightest, all-day, natural light compared to a softer, more indirect (and often darker) North-facing light,” she explains.

If you want your Garden Room to be drenched in sunshine and light, a south orientation of the primary elevation is best (wall with most of the glazing).

Pros: Morning Sunlight: East facing gardens receive plenty of morning sunlight, which is less harsh than the afternoon sun. This allows plants to gradually warm up, which can help them grow stronger and healthier.

South-facing windows provide the most light: direct sunlight within 2 to 3 feet of the window; bright, indirect sunlight up to 5 feet from the window; and semi-shade up to 8 feet away from the window. East and west-facing windows provide some direct light up to 3 feet and indirect light up to 5 feet away.

Whether during the Summer or Winter months, the sun's daily path starts in the East, swings South, and then sets in the West. Placing your plants in south-facing windows will expose them to day-long sunshine and help them grow as strong as possible!

Which direction should tomato plants face? ›

The best place to plant your tomatoes is in a location within your garden that gets full sun—at least 8-10 hours of direct light every day, though the hours don't necessarily need to be consecutive. For people who live in the Northern Hemisphere, south- and west-facing garden plots will get the most sun.

“The best veggie patches have good sun exposure – so have a northerly or westerly aspect,” says Richard Rowe, Training and Learning Coordinator at Sustainable Gardening Australia. “Fruiting vegetables, like tomatoes, cucumbers and summer crops, need at least eight hours of sunlight a day.

The Layout. Locate beds so that plants receive maximum sunlight and do not shade each other. Determine the north/south axis of the site and lay out the beds either in a north/south or east/west direction, not on a diagonal.

The easiest way to tell if your garden is south facing is to stand in it, facing to the rear and use a compass or app on your phone. If the compass says 'south', your garden is south facing. Alternatively, if you want to know what direction a garden faces at a house you're keen to buy, you can find out on Google Maps.

As a general rule, put tall veggies toward the back of the bed, mid-sized ones in the middle, and smaller plants in the front or as a border. Consider adding pollinator plants to attract beneficial insects that can not only help you get a better harvest, but will also prey on garden pests.

An east- or west-facing window provides enough light for most indoor plants. Keep those that need brighter light within two feet of the window. Move them to a south-facing window in winter if needed.

West or south-facing sites are preferred. Vegetable production declines as sunlight decreases, yet some early season crops such as radish or lettuce may be able to be produced in an area that receives a partial day of shade.

The Short Answer: Morning Sun is Better for Tender Plants

Generally, both morning and afternoon sunlight are beneficial for plant growth. For most vegetables and herbs, the morning sun is superior because it is gentler and cooler.

Determine the north/south axis of the site and lay out the beds either in a north/south or east/west direction, not on a diagonal. When incorporating a trellis for vine crops such as cucumbers, beans, or grapes, run it east/west, and locate it at the northern end of the bed. Shortest crops can occupy the southern end.

According to Vastu-Shastra, North and East direction is considered auspicious for gardening in the home. If a garden is set up in this direction, it will always maintain positive energy in your home and keeps negative energy away. According to Vastu-shastra, the garden should never be kept in a South or West direction.