Let There Be Light! - Optimizing light in your garden

Let There Be Light!

Light, along with water and soil, is one of the main components that plants need to thrive.  A plant will take energy from the sun and convert it into food through a process known as photosynthesis. The tricky thing is that some plants need more light than others.  Some plants can handle the day, burning hot sun, whereas others only need dappled light to thrive.  The goal of a gardener is to find the optimum amount of light for a plant in the garden to allow it to flourish.

Let’s discuss 5 things a gardener should know about light to optimize the garden:

Tip #1: Know Your Terms

When you look at a plant tag, you’ll notice that the grower has labeled the plant with a certain light term, either full sun, part sun, part shade, full shade or even indirect light.  These terms are the growers’ way to guide you to the proper placement of the plant so it can thrive.  Knowing the horticultural definition of these terms is important.

Full sun is pretty straightforward.  This plant likes light and lots of it! Make sure a full sun plant is in at least 8 hours of light per day.

Part sun and part shade are the most confusing terms, at least for me.  A lot of people consider them the same thing, but there are a few distinguishable characteristics you need to know about part sun versus part shade.

Part sun means 4-6 hours of light per day.  Part shade is 2-4 hours; however, those 2-4 hours should be gentle morning light.  A part sun plant can handle up to 6 hours of sun, no matter what time of day.  A part shade plant might scorch and burn if you put it in 2 hours of burning hot afternoon sun.

Full shade is a little misleading of a term.  You would think that this means a plant can’t be in any sunlight at all, but it can handle up to 2 hours of gentle morning sun, and some plants will like an hour or 2 of this type of sun. 

Finally, the term bright indirect light corresponds with light that you would often find indoors.  Imagine the sun coming in through a window and shining on a table.  Bright indirect light would be just next to that sunbeam. 

Tip #2: Consider Light Intensity

An often ignored, but extremely important concept of light in the garden is the amount of light intensity in your region.  Imagine the strength of the sun in Phoenix, Arizona versus the strength of the sun in Buffalo, New York.  Eight hours of direct sun in both these regions is still technically full sun, but logically, we can all see that the intensity and strength of those 8 hours are going to be different. It’s hard for a grower to indicate this on a plant tag so it’s up to us as gardeners to know our region’s sun intensity and the effect it might have on our garden. 

Another way to think about light intensity is the varying intensity of the sun as the day progresses.  The early morning sun is gentle and soft.  A few hours into the morning sun are going to be very different compared to the stronger, more intense sun of the mid to late afternoon.  When choosing locations for your plants, it’s important to consider the type of sunlight hours your plants will be getting. 

Tip #3: Choose your plants wisely

Now that we understand the definition of light requirements, it’s time to go plant shopping!  Note what light level you are looking for based on the area of your garden that you want to plant up, then check the tags of plants at the garden center to make sure the light levels match. If you are shopping on the Proven Winners Website, you can actually filter your search to specific light levels to make it easier for yourself.

Here are some great examples of plants in each light exposure level:

Full sun: Luscious^® Lantana - This series of plants thrive well in lots of sun.  If you are looking for a plant that can handle the heat, it’s hard to beat a lantana.

Part Sun: Pure White Butterfly^® Marguerite Daisy - This gorgeous cottage garden staple is a perfect part sun plant.  It likes the sun, but not too much.

Part Shade: Endless^™ Illumination Bush Violet - The perfect plant for under an awning or underplanting a shrub.  This plant can handle less light but still provide gorgeous color all season long.

Full Shade: Little Henry^® Sweetspire - Little Henry is a special plant that can handle a variety of conditions, including full shade.  A perfect plant to add to a difficult spot that doesn’t get a lot of light!

Indirect Light: Try one of the new leafjoy^™ houseplants.

Tip #4: Check for Signs of Light Problems

Now that you’ve planted your beautiful plant, your job as a gardener is never done.  It’s important to check the plant to watch for signs of either too much sunlight or even too little.  Signs your plant might be getting too much sun burning or scorching of the leaves.  You will notice crispy brown edges on the leaves which might indicate there is too much light for that plant to handle during the day.  Plants with too much sun can also bleach out, with the color of the blooms fading as time goes on.  Signs of too little light are stretching, where you will notice the stems growing and the space between the leaf nodes getting longer and longer.  This is a sign that the plant is trying to reach for the light it so desperately needs.  Another sign of too little light is a lack of blooms.  If you notice a plant is not blooming, you should pay attention to the amount of sun it’s getting during the day.  Again, plants convert light into food for themselves. No light means no food, and therefore no blooms. 

Tip #5: It’s OK to Adjust as needed

If you do notice a light problem in your garden, don’t be afraid to move a plant from one location to another to give it more light or less light.  Healthy plants are resilient and might appreciate the move.  Try adjusting structures around the plant.  Try trimming the limb canopy of a nearby tree to allow for more sunlight to get through.  Maybe install a lattice partition or maybe a gorgeous 4-sided tuteur or obelisks to protect a plant from the hot afternoon sun.  My favorite way to garden is through trial and error. If I see a choice not working out, I adjust accordingly.

Mother Nature is always in charge. As gardeners, we partner with her successful gardening by knowing how to assess soil, water and light when selecting our plants. The “secret sauce” in creating a successful garden is mindful partnership.