The sun can change the feel of your backyard quite a bit throughout the day. A spot that’s sunny over breakfast might be shaded by lunch, while another part of the yard stays hot well into the afternoon. As well, trees, fences, and your house can all affect what gets light and when.
Before you start choosing plants or deciding where to put garden beds, spend some time watching how the sun moves across the yard. It can make all the difference when you’re planning an Ottawa garden, especially if you want low-maintenance green spaces that attract birds and pollinators.
Watch the Yard Before You Change It
There’s no need to start digging to figure out how much sun your backyard gets. Rather than get down to it right away, spend a few days paying attention to how the light changes throughout the day.
Check the yard in the morning, around midday, and again in the afternoon. Notice which areas get direct sun and which are shaded by the house, a mature tree, fencing, or other features. You may find that a spot you thought was full sun only gets a few hours of direct light, while another stays bright well into the afternoon.
These conditions will help you choose the right plants. Plant tags usually tell you how much sun a plant needs, along with its expected mature size. Matching those needs to the conditions in your yard can make a big difference to healthy growth.
It can also help you decide how to use the space. A sunny corner might be ideal for a garden bed, while a naturally shaded area could make a more comfortable spot for seating.
Give Morning and Afternoon Sun Different Jobs
Morning and afternoon light are not necessarily interchangeable when you’re planning an outdoor space.
An east-facing area tends to receive more morning sun, while areas exposed to the west can receive stronger afternoon light. That difference can influence where you place plants and where you want to spend time.
Morning sun can work well around spaces you use early in the day, such as a small seating area beside the kitchen or a garden where you like to have your coffee. A west-facing part of the backyard may be more useful for evening gatherings, but it can also become quite warm during late summer afternoons.
You can use these patterns to divide your backyard into different areas rather than trying to make the entire property work the same way.
For example, you might have:
- A sunny garden bed for perennials and pollinator-friendly plants
- A partially shaded seating area
- A dining space positioned away from the strongest afternoon sun
- A walkway that connects the different areas
- A planting area around an existing mature tree
Especially in a small backyard, giving different sections a specific purpose can be more useful than treating the entire space as one area.
Let Plants Follow the Light
Once you understand the sun exposure, you can start choosing specific plants that fit each part of the yard.
Native plants are often a practical place to start. Plants that are well suited to local growing conditions can be easier to maintain and can provide valuable food and habitat for birds and pollinators.
For sunny areas, perennials such as bee balm, black-eyed susans, and purple coneflower can bring colour and attract bees and other pollinators. Their flowering periods can also help create seasonal interest, with different plants coming into bloom from late spring through late summer and into early fall.
Think about mature size as you make your selections, too. Dwarf varieties can be useful in a compact yard where a full-sized tree or shrub would eventually overwhelm the space. Climbing plants can add greenery vertically without taking up much ground.
Grouping plants according to their sunlight and water needs can make the garden easier to maintain. It also means you are not trying to keep a shade-loving plant happy in an area that receives direct sun all afternoon.
Use Trees to Change the Pattern of Light
Trees can have a major effect on how sunlight moves through a backyard.
A mature tree already on the property may create valuable shade during the summer, but it can also change what you can plant underneath it. Its roots may compete for water, and the soil conditions beneath the canopy may be different from those in an open garden bed.
If you are adding trees, placement deserves some thought. A deciduous tree can provide shade during the summer while allowing more sunlight through after its leaves fall. Positioning it carefully can give you afternoon shade without completely blocking the light from other parts of the yard.
Trees can also do more than provide shade. They add height, create a focal point, and help define different areas of the garden without putting up a physical barrier.
Keep Soil Moisture in Mind
Sun exposure and soil moisture are closely connected. Areas that receive direct afternoon sun can dry out more quickly, particularly during dry spells. Plants that need consistently moist soil may struggle in these conditions unless you are prepared to water them regularly.
Mulch can help. A layer of shredded hardwood around plants can reduce moisture loss and help protect the soil from temperature swings. It can also reduce weed growth as the garden fills in.
When watering is necessary, water deeply rather than giving plants a quick sprinkle. Early morning is generally a good time because less water is lost to evaporation.
Your soil itself also deserves attention. Improving soil health can help plants establish stronger root systems and make the garden more resilient during periods of heat or dry conditions.
Think About the Backyard Beyond Summer
It’s easy to design around the way your yard looks in July and forget about the rest of the year.
Consider what the space will look like in spring, early September, and later into the fall. Trees and shrubs can provide structure after flowering plants have finished. Evergreens can maintain greenery when other plants have gone dormant, while grasses, seed heads, bark, and changing foliage can add visual interest later in the season.
The position of the sun changes throughout the year as well. A spot that receives direct sun in late August may have a different pattern in spring or fall. That’s another reason to look at the existing conditions before making major changes.
Design Around the Yard You Actually Have
Start with the yard you have and pay attention to how it changes throughout the day. Where does the sun hit? Where do trees and structures cast shade? Which plants will thrive in those conditions? Once you know what you’re working with, you can build your garden around it and make adjustments as it grows.
For a more involved project, professional landscaping services can help you bring all of these pieces together. Abloom can look at the property as a whole and develop custom outdoor spaces around its existing features, available light, and the way you want to use the backyard.
Want to rethink your Ottawa backyard? Contact Abloom for a free quote and start planning a space that works with your property, from the morning sun through the afternoon.