position of gardens

Hi,

i just though I would ask a question and see what you all think.

I was thinking (rare thing) that I would find it very useful if we hade a few different areas on the site which we could post ideas/pictures of our gardens but within a particular position.

ie

south
north
west
east

etc.

what do you all think?

 

so we could have a thread for each. That way we can get ideas / inspiration from others who have the same facing garden as ours.

 

I have a completely North facing garden which only started receiving sun in March, now looking to see when it stops shining in the garden. I think it could be a good idea.

 

Do you find that you are limited with plant selection>

 

My back garden facessouth but slightly west. I get sun from about 8am to about 5pm at this time of the year. Looking forward to the garden being fruitful.

 

We've been lucky as still a light garden and 6 months of light is pretty good for most plants. If anything the problem is buying shade plants when in at the beginning of the year and then come April and on finding they are in full sun. The only plant that didn't work were snowdrops as no sun in the garden that early on. One came up, drooped and died, the rest didn't even bother popping up!!

 

Being a computer failure I cannot join in with this good idea - it is one of my favourite topics as the positioning of plants in the garden causes me all sorts of problems. My main garden faces south - some plants must go under overhanging trees from next door - some in shade - some in the morning sun and some the afternoon sun/etc.
My approach is to move the plants around to seek the best place - none of the books I've read seem to tackle this issue and I think that pictures would help................

 

There are so many variables in individual gardens - soil, light, climate, trees etc - but I find Perfect Plant, Perfect Place by Roy Lancaster is brilliant as a guide to where plants should be happy. But always remember that plants don't read books - and if in doubt try it.

 

I wish my Cornus Kousa read the same books as me as I've done everything it says in books, gardening programs etc. but still no sign of life. I've even cut it back a bit to see if that helps. No green shoots at all but I now wonder weather I should put it much further into shade even though this variety grow fruit??

 

Interesting idea!
Mine faces north and has a three storey wall at the bottom of it. It's only about 6mx6m, but does get some sun.
My method so far has been to stick it in and see how it does. if it thrives, it stays, if not, so be it.
I have a blue and white colour scheme going on too and so far, most stuff has been OK. I have lost a veronica royal candles and a type of gentian.
The gentian's flowers only opened in very bright sun which it didn't get much of, so this year I moved it and it's died :(
Loads of stuff has survived though.

 

My garden has gradually been losing the sun again since really the beginning of this month. Certain parts of the garden I now know only get 4 months of sun, including my rosemary hedge, so will see how that fairs come next May when sun hits it again.

 

I think it's a pretty good idea Johnny. My south facing front garden is no problem. My west facing side is not really a prob because there are enough shade loving plants (even exotics) to make it interesting (mainly to the slugs). But my back garden is north facing, and as I am into tropicals and exotics, I dread what I am going to do next year, when we are re-developing it. I refuse to grow bloody lupins.

 

:D :D Only one of my lupins did any good this year but everything has worked BUT they were all planted in February / March time just as the sun was coming so this is the first Autumn and Winter without sun most of the plants will have endured. So I'll just have to wait and see.

 

Well the garden has gone a month without sun and looks really good!!!!! The sweet peas are still flowering, the tomatoes in the baskets are still growing and the Dahlias are still blooming though look a little washed out without sun. I think as the sun disappears around the front of house and puts our North facing garden in shade for the late autumn / winter months this is still only what some may call light shade as the area without the comparison of sunlight is still relatively light. Only when I see across the wall to the neighbours with the south gardens do I realise how dark our garden looks.