SUN Ideas, Tips & Guides

There is little you can do to control how much shade or sunlight a garden bed gets. Sure, you can cut down a tree to let in more sun or build a pergola for shade, but you can’t adjust the tilt of the earth. To find plants that will thrive in your garden, you need to get a handle on how much sunlight reaches each bed throughout the day and in all four seasons. Fortunately, with good observation skills and perhaps a new app on your phone, you can gather all the information you need to choose plants that will grow well in your garden’s brightest sun, deepest shade, and all the partially shaded places in between. 

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Chances are, you’ve got mixed conditions in your garden. One area might be in full sun, while another spot a bit farther away is in full shade. Even beds that have the same exposure on paper may have larger plants that shade out the ground below. This presents a challenge for developing a cohesive look within a landscape. As gardeners, we’ve been taught that repetition is one of the tenets of good garden design. But how can one repeat groupings of a plant throughout a border that stretches from bright light to dappled shade? The answer is by utilizing plants that are highly adaptable and will thrive in both sun and shade. In today’s episode we’re singing the praises of these flexible species. They are invaluable assets to the landscape and, as a bonus, will hold their own when the light conditions of a garden inevitably change over time.    

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As the spring and summer sun arrives, it’s easy to dream of the fun you’ll have in your yard, from the barbecues and the cookouts to the cozy cocktail parties on the patio. But where there’s warmth, one very unpleasant and uninvited guest often swarms: mosquitos. 

Burning up in the sunshine? Don’t sweat it! We’ll show you Leafy Shelter from the Sun Ideas, also known as garden bowers. Just picture cool, shady spots you would like in your yard and get ready to turn it into a reality.

Want to know the secret to growing a show-stopping Oxalis Triangularis? Those gorgeous, clover-shaped leaves deserve to be big, bold, and bursting with life. Don’t worry; we’ll give you some easy tips and tricks!

Colorful and trailing—these are the highlights of tradescantia, and it is probably one of the most recognised plants in America, too. If you are wondering why, and don’t have one in your collection, well, you’ll get one after reading this!

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The Best Flowering Vines and Climbers to Grow in Garden & Containers can add vertical interest, frame doorways, or even create privacy screens. And the best part? They’re really easy to take care of. 

The following plants come from habitats that are seasonally or permanently wet, yet they can thrive in drier upland regions too. They are also tolerant of different soil types and textures. 

Like many northern gardeners, I had red-hot poker envy for many years but ruled out growing them because of their iffy -chances of surviving winter in my region. However, I am very excited about some of the newer Kniphofia introductions we are growing at the Chicago Botanic Garden. Being able to overwinter a South African plant in the Midwest is pretty cool, right? 

This plan represents a bed along a property fence between the west side of a house and a large canopy tree. The edge of the border is curved because I find that adds visual interest. This plan includes many plants that are adaptable to sun and shade as well as some supporting players that add interesting textures and forms to the design and that provide repetition and rhythm. The plants are placed according to their needs:

We design gardens in northwestern Connecticut’s Litchfield Hills, and many of our clients’ properties have sections that are rocky and steep. Embracing the unique contours of each site, we have built rock gardens, terraces, and plantings that flow downhill. We see each hillside as an opportunity to put together a satisfying plant palette that is easy to maintain and beautiful to behold. A bonus with slopes is that they provide good drainage by their very nature.

Don’t have a sunny part in your home or garden, but still crave for those lively blossoms? Don’t worry! We have some beautiful flowers that will be more than happy to bloom in no sunlight!

Siberian irises are known for filling the bloom gap between late spring and midsummer. They blossom after Japanese iris (I. ensata, Zones 4–9) but before bearded iris (I. germanica, Zones 3–9). This 2024 introduction sports a compact habit that allows it to hold the stems of heavy blooms aloft without fuss. Each flower has saffron-yellow signals (outer petals) highlighted by dusty purple-blue veins. The center is a solid amethyst hue. The interesting, tiger-like striping is certainly the cat’s meow.

Name: Hydrangea arborescens ‘Kolpinbel’

Name: Cornus kousa var. chinensis

Name: Mahonia repens syn. Berberis repens

Name: Pycnanthemum albescens

Drought-tolerant, laden with nectar, evergreen, long-flowering, and so pungent that it fills the garden with scent, lavender is deservedly popular. The late garden designer Rosemary Verey said, «You can never have too much of it in your garden». In its preferred conditions, of well-drained soil that is baked by the sun, it is easy to grow.

For every first time plant parent out there, if you need a little help on how to go ahead and take the right care of the green friends you have in your collection, well, you are at the right place!

Jade is one of the most resilient plants you can have in your collection. Though it doesn’t mind a bit of a neglect, it will surely appreacite a right placement where it can multiply in size!

As the sun begins to shine again and temperatures rise, there's no better place to be than outdoors, soaking up the relaxed atmosphere of an Ibiza garden. With its laid-back vibe, natural elements, and bohemian style, the Ibiza garden is a trend that has firmly established itself in modern outdoor spaces. Fancy adding a touch of Ibiza to your garden or terrace? Then follow these simple steps and transform your outdoor space into an oasis of Ibiza ambiance.

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Why Your Canna Lilies May Fail to Bloom

I have often thought of myself as “gardening against the odds.” My rural Black Earth, Wisconsin, garden is adjacent to a marsh and pond and is technically in Zone 5a, but the open farmland and subsequent winds around me place it closer to Zone 4b. I’ve lost plants to harsh winters, deer, rabbits, and woodchucks. I’ve had snapping turtles till up my garden beds to make nests and beloved woody plants destroyed by beavers. As if all that weren’t enough, the majority of the shade in the garden is from black walnut trees, which cause lots of problems, like robbing moisture and nutrients from surrounding plants.

Thanks to their big and enormous leaf size, if you are not careful with the sun exposure, monsteras might get scorch, and that leaves them looking lacklustre. However, the good news is that you can bring them back to their original, green glory, in no time!

Towels are a household item that certainly get plenty of use each and every day, and with that, you may be wondering if it's time to replace your set of go-tos.

If you see your plants growing in every direction – well, this is an indication that they’re on a leggy path. However, it may also have a deeper meaning!

Are you planning to install a pergola to enhance your outdoor space? Whether it's creating a shady retreat in your backyard or adding an architectural element to your patio, installing a pergola can be a great way to improve your outdoor living. But before you start building, there are some key things to consider to ensure your project is successful.

If you want the colors in your garden to stay intact even in the peak of heat, these flowers are a great choice as they keep on blooming no matter how warm the weather gets!

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7 Reasons Magnolia Trees May Fail to Bloom

Not every home gets its share of sunlight. If you are someone who dreams of having indoor plants in dimly lit rooms – you’re in for a treat!

Left: WWD / Getty Images; Right: CARSON DOWNING