Now that we’ve covered gardening soil and amendments, it’s time to get to the other basics for good gardening. In this article, we’ll be talking about sunlight. Sunlight is essential for plant growth, so it’s important to use this precious resource to its maximum capacity. Here are a few tips for getting the most of the light available in your garden:
1) Create a sunlight map: If you are willing to take the time, you can get a true assessment of how much light your garden gets by creating a sunlight map. Click this link for step-by-step instructions: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/gardenmap
2) Use tools to get the most out of your light sources. Try raised bed gardening in areas that get the most light. If your deck or patio is your sunniest area, a well-placed raised garden bed can enable you to use that space for gardening. Vertical plant growing systems are another great way to take advantage of sunlight. A vegetable trellis or plant wall allows plants to reach upward toward the sun and benefit from air circulation to avoid excess heat. For a video on setting up a raised vegetable garden bed with a Veggie Wall, see http://www.frameitall.com/garden-trellis.html.
3) Choose plantings wisely: Although all plants need some sun to photosynthesize, plants that require little sun should be placed in areas where light is low and shadows are plentiful. Make sure the right plants are going in the right places, or nothing will make them grow well.
4) Know the signs of overexposure or underexposure: Too much sun will cause burned, crisp, grayish/brownish green leaves on your plants, stunted growth, and wilting. Too little sun and you’ll see fewer buds and flowers, sparsely growing stems and leaves, and a lopsided growth pattern that leans towards light sources.
5) Use the power of reflection. A very simple DIY way to make the most of sunlight in your garden is to use reflective materials (think tag sales for old mirrors and those car windshield shades that were popular several years ago). Place the materials where you want to increase your sunshine.
Now, let the sun shine, and watch your plants grow, grow, grow!
