Are North Facing Home Gardens Good For the Environment?
Whether you’re planting a flower garden or a landscape, a north-facing home garden has many benefits. Not only are you enhancing your property’s curb appeal, but you’ll also help the environment. Unlike sunny locations, a north-facing garden will receive minimal direct sunlight. This means that your plants will have a higher chance of survival.
Plants that do well in shady conditions
If your home is oriented northwards, your home garden could be the perfect spot for plants that thrive in partial shade. North-facing gardens receive gentle sun in the morning and afternoon. The following plants thrive in these conditions: Alchemilla, also known as Lady’s mantle, is an ideal choice. This shrub has scalloped leaves and tiny yellow-green flowers. This plant needs little sun to survive and prefers moist soil.
Foxgloves, which are biennials (they flower for two years), are another excellent choice for shaded gardens. These plants can be transplanted to another spot as they self-seed readily. Once they grow, you can simply plant them in the desired location and enjoy them for years to come.
A glossy-leaved paper plant is another option. This plant is easily transplanted from one spot to another and can thrive in a shady north-facing home garden. It also tolerates salt spray, cold, and air pollution. Its leaves are also attractive and have an interesting shape. However, you must care for this plant well, as it is prone to root rot.
Plants that thrive in low-light conditions
Plants that grow well in low-light conditions are essential for a north-facing home garden. These plants prefer indirect light and don’t need direct sun. They also require little water and are often tolerant of neglect. For example, the Rubber Plant grows small, white flowers and thrives in indirect light.
Other plants that can tolerate low-light conditions include snake plants, also known as Dracaena trifasciata. These plants grow up to six inches in height and are a good choice for north-facing home gardens. Snake plants are easy to care for and require little water. If you want to grow this plant in indirect light, make sure to provide ample humidity.
Moth orchids are another good choice for north-facing home gardens. These orchids don’t like direct sunlight, but they do best when they’re placed near north-facing windows. They can be grouped together to create a lush display.
Plants that thrive in shady conditions
If your north-facing home garden is prone to the hottest days of the summer, you might want to plant some plants that thrive in part-shade. Sweet peas, for instance, will thrive in part-shade and are the perfect choice for a north-facing garden. You can plant a climbing sweet pea or an everlasting variety that blooms from June to September. Both varieties grow best in soil that is rich and contains organic compost.
Shade-loving plants such as rhododendrons and raspberries are excellent choices for a north-facing home garden. However, you should be aware that many types of plants require at least four to eight hours of direct sunlight to thrive. Hence, there are some plants you should avoid planting in a north-facing home garden: lavender, petunias, sunflowers, and roses.
In order to make your north-facing home garden look more vibrant, consider using contrast. Plants with different textures can create beautiful contrasts and create a lively atmosphere. Textural ferns, for example, are an excellent choice if you want a dynamic space. Perennial ferns provide a stunning display of foliage and can be planted throughout the year.
Final Thoughts for North Facing Home Gardens
If your north facing home garden is not sunny, you may want to consider planting something that will tolerate partial shade. Alternatively, there are plants that thrive in full sunlight. In order to create a wildlife-friendly garden, you’ll also want to incorporate some water. A mini pond or two will add a natural element. You can also plant a bench or pots of annuals at the farthest end of your garden.
Adding trees will shady up your garden, but you can make your garden look more open by pruning the lower branches of trees. This will give the illusion that the garden extends beyond the garden boundary. A dark fence is a good choice because it will blend in with the surrounding foliage.
Another advantage of a north facing garden is that it receives evening sunlight from May to October. It’s usually beneficial to have two different seating areas so that you can enjoy the evenings in the garden. To maximize your garden space, consider zoned areas. A north facing garden can be ideal for outdoor dining.
The sun’s position in a north-facing garden will depend on what you choose to grow. You can choose plants that tolerate shade, like foxgloves, and avoid relying on flowers like roses.
