Landscaping: Sun Vs. Shade

The key to landscaping your own front or backyard is knowing how much sun the different areas receive.

Doing your own landscaping can be a great way to create a creative outlet, giving yourself some much needed personal reflection time and improving your home’s look. However, creating a beautiful yard and garden isn’t as easy as it may look. The beautiful landscaped and pristine yards of your neighbors didn’t happen overnight. They have spent months, even years, understanding the soil, terrain and the amount of sun.

Why isn’t it as easy as it looks? How difficult can planting a few shrubs and flowers be? Any good gardener or home landscaper can tell you that understanding the amount of sunlight the plants will receive is one of the most important things that you can do when creating a beautiful garden and yard.

Some plants require more sun, some require less, and there are even variations among plants regarding what type of sun they need. Landscaping means learning what kind of sun your front or backyard receives. Understanding whether your yard or garden will get morning or afternoon sunlight is part of this process. You also need to understand the amount of shade surrounding or affecting your yard or garden. These factors will determine the type of plants you can grow.

If your yard, either front or back, is extremely shaded, then you will want to find the specific types of plants that prefer shade. These are often leafy green plants. Hostas and bamboo are a good choice for a full to partially shaded lawn. Astilbe will also do well in the shade. If you want a more bloomed and colorful look, the Astilbe is a popular choice. The plants flower generally in pinks, whites, purple and yellows.

You will also have to consider the growth life of your plant, especially if you are thinking of landscaping with flowers. It is most simple to think in terms of annuals and perennials. Annuals live for one season only, blooming from spring to fall. Perennials are a little more permanent addition to your garden, lasting for several growing seasons. While annuals will be in bloom for several months of the year, the perennial will be in bloom for only a few weeks.

Of course, you can find plenty of plants that prefer both partial shade to full sun. There are also thousands of varieties of flowers, annuals and perennials to choose from. If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed and unsure where to begin your quest for the perfect yard and garden, talk to a garden specialist at your local home and garden store. They will be able to give you helpful advice on what type of plants might do well in your yard or garden.

Landscaping is a wonderful pastime if you are looking for a way to spend more time outdoors. Many people enjoy the solitude being in a garden provides and appreciate the chance to dig the fingers in the dirt to produce something beautiful.

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