Sun Mapping: Know Where to Plant What

Why April is the Perfect Time to Observe Light Patterns in Your Garden

Before the trees fully leaf out and cast their summer shade, April offers a golden window of opportunity for gardeners to observe how sunlight travels through their yard. Whether you’re planting a new bed, refreshing a perennial garden, or planning vegetable plots, understanding your sun exposure is key to putting the right plant in the right place.

🌤️ Why Sun Mapping Matters

Different plants have different light requirements—some need full, blazing sun to thrive, while others wilt without a little afternoon shade. By taking time to observe and map your yard’s light patterns now, you’ll set yourself up for a season of stronger, healthier plants.

April is ideal because:

• Bare branches = accurate morning & afternoon light visibility

• Longer days make it easier to spot sunniest and shadiest spots

• New growth hasn’t yet filled in, so you can see how light reaches the soil

🗺️ How to Map Sunlight in Your Yard

You don’t need fancy tools—just a notebook or a simple sketch of your yard, and maybe your phone for photos or notes. Here’s how:

1. Sketch Your Space

Draw a rough outline of your yard or garden beds, noting buildings, fences, trees, and major shrubs that might cast shade.

2. Pick a Clear Day

Choose a sunny day to track how the light changes across your landscape.

3. Check at Key Intervals

Observe and record sun exposure at:

• 8 a.m. – Morning light

• 12 p.m. – Midday sun

• 4 p.m. – Afternoon/evening light

Do this every few hours if you can. Note whether each area is in full sun, partial sun, dappled light, or full shade.

4. Take Photos

Snapping photos at each time point from the same angle can help you remember what you saw—and share with garden center staff when asking for advice!

5. Mark It Up

On your sketch, color-code or label each area with its typical light conditions.

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🌿 Sunlight Guide: What to Plant Where

Once your map is done, match your plant choices with their ideal light needs:

• Full Sun (6+ hours/day):
  Great for veggies, herbs, sun-loving perennials like coneflowers, daylilies, black-eyed Susans, and many annuals like petunias or marigolds.

• Part Sun/Part Shade (3–6 hours/day):
  Good for plants like astilbe, columbine, bleeding heart, and some veggies like lettuce and spinach.

• Full Shade (<3 hours/day or filtered light all day):
  Ideal for hostas, ferns, coral bells, and impatiens.

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🌞 Plant Smart, Grow Happy

Sun mapping may feel like a small step, but it’s one of the smartest things you can do for your garden’s long-term health. April gives you a clear view—take advantage of it! Whether you’re designing from scratch or editing an existing bed, matching plants to light conditions will help you create a more beautiful and productive landscape all season long.

Need help matching your sun map to plant choices? Stop by and show us your map—our staff can help you select the perfect plants for every patch of sunshine (or shade) in your yard!