Landscaping Plants and Trees that Love the Sun

One of the keys to having a healthy garden is being aware of which plants prefer full sun and which ones do better in shade. Trees, such as tamarack, cedars and pines, will usually thrive with as much sunlight as they can get. 8 hours or more of sunlight per day is essential for fruit trees, especially citrus, to bloom and be productive. Flowers, on the other hand, will vary when it comes to how much sun they prefer.

6 or more hours of direct sunlight per day is considered ‘full sun’. Plants in these areas will receive nearly all of the sun’s energy. This will cause the plants to flower and produce greener leaves due to the abundance of energy for photosynthesis. These plants must receive ample water and be hardy enough to resist burning.

Foxgloves are plants that will do well in both full sun and partial shade. They will produce an abundance of flowers when the soil is warm and moist. Another plant that will readily soak up as much sun as possible is yarrow, which is a fern-like plant with small white flowers.

If you’re in an area that receives a lot of sunlight, it may be difficult to maintain the level of moisture and nutrition that is necessary. Some regions that are hot and dry cannot provide the nitrogen and phosphorous that is necessary for plants due to poor soil quality.

There are things you can due to supply your plants with the nutrients they need, even in hot climates. Small doses of liquid fertilizer will be sufficient for smaller potted plants. Follow the directions for different sizes of pots and types of plants. Dry and moist fertilizer is also available in bags to accommodate larger garden areas.

For large gardens, manure-based fertilizer is recommended. It can be found in bags ranging from 30lbs to 50 lbs. Distribute the fertilizer over you’re your garden either by hand or with a dispenser. Especially for flowering plants, it’s important to water the soil at least every other day, but be careful not to over do it.

There are several species that are drought resistant, such as cacti, and can survive with very small amounts of water. These plants are uniquely designed to hold water inside, without loosing any through their leaves. More common flowering plants, such as pansies, foxgloves and irises do not have this ability.

There are other species that can survive on limited water, such as yarrow, aloe and verbena. Bougainvillea and wisteria are examples of vine plants that can also do well in hot areas with little water. Unless you live in the desert or the ground is too rocky where you live, most shrubs will get sufficient water from the soil. Although those regions do not retain water very well, that is not always a bad thing.

Many trees, such as citrus, walnut, pines and tamarack will also do well with little water. Many people have a tendency to over water their trees, especially if they are in a large pot. Your garden will give you years of enjoyment if you’re careful to pick the right plants for the soil and sunlight available to you.

         

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