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What Is Sun Tracking and Why It Matters!
When I first planted a garden of my own , I promptly realized that discernment sun was one of the most important ( and sometimes overlooked ) cistron in growing respectable plants .
I ’d excitedly constitute flowers and veg , only to find some thriving while others sputter . It did n’t take long to enter out that the amount of sunlight each speckle received made all the difference . That ’s when I memorise about Dominicus tracking and how it helps you be after a more successful garden .
Why Sunlight Matters in the Garden
Sunlight is a industrial plant ’s fuel , and unlike plants have dissimilar needs . Some , like Lycopersicon esculentum and roses , demand full Sunday ( at least six hour of unmediated sun daily ) , while others , like hostas and fern , opt shade .
trail the Sunday in your garden helps you prefer the good plants for the right spots , preventing letdown ( aka all in plants ) , blow your time , and wasting money .
Start Your Own Flower Garden!
How to Track the Sun in Your Garden
Sun tracking does n’t need fancy tools — just some observation and forbearance . Here ’s how you could do it :
1. Use the Shadow Method
One of the simplest ways to get over the sun is by remark how shadows move throughout the day . ( think sundials ? )
Take a notepad or make notes on your phone and tick your garden at dissimilar times : early morning , midday , and late good afternoon . Make a note of which area get full sun , fond sun , or nuance during a particular timeframe .
I will share how I use my phone camera for this in a bit .
2. Create a Sun Map
For a more detailed approach , draw a scratchy study of your garden . Over a few mean solar day , note which domain get direct sun and for how prospicient . Color - code or brand sections as :
3. An Easier Way – Take Photos
Snap photograph at unlike time of the daytime to visually get over sun shape . How I do this is I choose a gay , cloud - free day that I am going to be home , I start about 7 am . I go out to the garden and take a photo with my phone tv camera of a certain expanse .
I have dissimilar garden domain that get different amount of sunlight so if I want to represent another area , I will move to that arena and break down a photo there as well .
I set my sound alarm for an hour later and go out to the garden , stand in the same spot as earlier and take another exposure . I do this every hour until the sunshine sets .
It may seem tedious , but I usually have a solar day when I am doing mundane chores and can take a instant every minute to do this .
I create a folder in my photos on my sound for this and hold open all the sun single-valued function photos to that booklet . That make them gentle to see afterward .
This method of break down out every hour is gentle for me to be more detailed rather than just a few times a day . This gives you a better feel for how the trees or neighboring buildings cast shadows that careen throughout the day .
4. Use Technology
I have heard there are apps like Sun Seeker and Sun Surveyor that can show you the sun ’s path over your garden , include seasonal changes . These tools are handy if you ’re planning a garden in wintertime or other spring before foliage fills in .
But I have not used them to verify whether they do the job well . But if you try one then please give me a input and lease me know how well they act upon for you .
5. Observe Season Changes
Sun pattern convert throughout the class . In summer , the sun is higher in the sky , tramp short shadows . In wintertime , it ’s lower , make longer shadower . If you ’re trail the sun for recollective - full term garden planning , you may want to do the phone Lord’s Day mapping thaumaturgy every other month for a thorough record .
Using Sun Tracking to Plan Your Garden
Once you ’ve map your sun exposure , you could confidently choose plants that will expand :
Most plant labels will tell you what variety of sunshine consideration that plant will choose , but do n’t be afraid to experiment a lilliputian . Also , know you’re able to slightly modify and area yourself . I observe that in my television , which is linked below .
If you ’re growing in container , sun trailing can help you move lot to the well - lit areas throughout the time of year .
Final Thoughts
Sun tracking might sound technical , but it ’s just about devote attention to your garden and the sun . By interpret where the sun shines and when , you’re able to make better planting alternative , go to a prosperous , beautiful garden .
So grab a notebook or your cadre phone , take a manner of walking outdoors , and start map your sunshine — you’ll be amazed at how much of a difference it makes in reason where the sun shines in your infinite !
The Video as Promised
felicitous Gardening !
