Take one garden and just add sunlight!

Ever planted something in the wrong place? A position that later turns out to be too shady, or even too sunny for a particular plant that you fell in love with at a local Garden Centre. Making the most of your growing potential involves closely observing that wonderful thing called the Sun. At this time of year we see little glimpses of it here and there, just hinting that Spring truly is just around the corner.

If you take a look at the diagram I have drawn here, it is amazing to see just how low in the sky the Winter Sun really is - and how a garden with high fences or a northerly aspect will be affected. Changes in growing conditions are all part of the garden design process. An excellent way of making sure your space is fully utilised is to check levels of sunlight and how they will change throughout the year. If you want great results with plants and veggies, sunlight is of paramount importance, when laying out your beds.

But it's not just about getting the best growing conditions for plants alone. How about you?

When I set foot in a garden, I look for something that I like to call 'Sun-trap potential'. I am looking for even just a small area, that is out of the cold wind. So a sheltered little nook can suffice, if it's in the right position to catch available sunlight, just for an hour or two in the depths of December. If I can find a sun-trap, then I know that a small seat placed there will be appreciated all year round. So if you are planning out your garden always see if you can make space for a seat or two in a little sunny nook. I am not saying that you won't need your overcoat, but you can soak up those precious rays during short days, and so can any plants nearby.

If you have a garden problem or question why not POST it here in comments and I will get back to you. Also I would love to know how you get on this year with any of the ideas or inspiration you find on this blog. Let me know.