Garden Sunlight: How Much Sun Do Your Plants Really Need?

When we talk about garden sunlight, the amount and intensity of direct sunlight a garden area receives during the day. Also known as sun exposure, it’s the single biggest factor deciding whether your plants will thrive or just survive. It’s not just about how bright your yard looks—it’s about how many hours of direct sun hit the ground, and when. A spot that gets six hours of strong midday sun is totally different from one that gets eight hours of weak morning light. Most people assume more sun is always better, but that’s not true. Too much sun can scorch leaves, dry out soil, and stress plants that naturally grow in shade. And too little? You’ll end up with leggy, weak growth and no flowers or fruit.

Full sun, defined as six or more hours of direct sunlight daily is perfect for tomatoes, strawberries, and most herbs like rosemary and thyme. These plants need that heat and light to build sugars, ripen fruit, and stay disease-resistant. On the other end, shade tolerant plants, species that grow well with less than four hours of direct sun—like hostas, ferns, and certain types of hydrangeas—actually suffer if they get too much hot afternoon light. Then there’s the middle ground: partial sun, four to six hours of direct sun, often with afternoon shade. This is where many vegetables like peppers and broccoli do best. The key isn’t just counting hours—it’s tracking where the sun moves across your garden over the seasons. A spot that’s sunny in spring might be deep shade by July because your oak tree has leafed out.

Many gardeners make the mistake of planting based on what they see in spring, then wonder why things die in summer. Your garden’s sunlight pattern changes with the seasons, and even with the height of your own plants. That’s why mapping your sun zones matters. Grab a notebook, go out every hour from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. on a clear day, and sketch where the sun hits your yard. Mark the spots that stay shaded all day—those are perfect for ferns or moss. The hot, open patches? Save those for your veggie beds. You don’t need fancy tools. Just your eyes and a little patience.

And don’t forget: artificial grass doesn’t need sunlight, but what’s underneath it does. If you’re putting down synthetic turf over soil where you once grew plants, you’re still affecting drainage, root systems, and the microclimate around nearby real plants. Sunlight affects the whole garden ecosystem—even the parts you can’t see. That’s why the posts below cover everything from planting fruit bushes in the right sun zone to choosing flowers for unheated greenhouses that get limited light. You’ll find guides on soil prep for shady corners, how to pick plants that match your actual sun exposure, and even how to fix a garden that’s getting too much or too little light after a tree grows taller. No fluff. Just what works in real UK gardens, based on real results.