- Why is north-facing landscaping difficult?<\/a><\/li>
- Mapping sunlight in your north-facing yard<\/a><\/li>
- Tips for landscaping a north-facing yard<\/a>
- Plan for shade<\/a><\/li>
- Maximize sunlight<\/a><\/li>
- Add some color<\/a><\/li>
- Get creative with ground covers<\/a><\/li>
- Incorporate containers<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Why is north-facing landscaping difficult?<\/span><\/h2>
The U.S. is in the Northern hemisphere, which means the sun approaches American lawns from the south. This spells sunshine for south-facing yards and extra shade for yards to the north. Even if your yard doesn\u2019t get shadows from homes or tall trees, a north-facing landscape will need to accommodate at least partial shade while the sun is behind your house.<\/p>
Because there is less sun, north-facing landscaping doesn’t dry out quickly and holds more moisture than yards that face other directions. This can be perfect for low-maintenance landscaping or water-hungry plants, but you\u2019ll need to keep an eye out for lawn diseases.<\/p>
The good news? Your yard will stay cooler in the summer when temperatures climb, and there are plenty of options for a north-facing planting scheme! North-facing gardens can be tricky no matter your location, but in climates with particularly hot summers, sun-loving plants like begonias may even need the shade<\/a> to make sure they\u2019re sitting in moist soil.<\/p>
Mapping sunlight in your north-facing yard<\/span><\/h2>
![\"Mapping](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/rsz_sunny_yard.jpg\")
Julia_Kuleshova<\/a> | iStock<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure> To tackle a north-facing landscaping project<\/a>, it\u2019s important to know what kind of light you\u2019re working with first.\u00a0<\/p>
Here are a few different types of sun exposure common in north-facing yards:<\/p>
- Dappled sun:<\/strong> sunlight that\u2019s filtered through tree leaves all day long<\/li>
- Morning sun: <\/strong>bright sunlight in the morning but shady in the afternoon<\/li>
- Afternoon sun:<\/strong> shady in the morning and bright sunlight in the afternoon<\/li>
- Partial shade\/part shade\/light shade:<\/strong> three to six hours of direct sunlight per day<\/li>
- Full shade:<\/strong> less than three hours of direct sunlight<\/li>
- Deep shade:<\/strong> no direct sunlight all day<\/li><\/ul>
Try photographing your yard from the same angle at different times of day to get a picture \u2013 literally \u2013 of how the sun travels across your yard. This will help you locate your sunny and shady areas and choose the appropriate plants for those areas.<\/p>
Tips for landscaping a north-facing yard<\/span><\/h2>
After mapping the sunlight in your yard, it\u2019s time to use that information. Follow these tips for landscaping a north-facing yard.<\/p>
Plan for shade<\/span><\/h3>
![\"shade-loving](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/shade-loving-plants.jpg\")
Tanaphong Toochinda<\/a> | Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Start by selecting flowers, shrubs, vines, ground covers, or vegetables like those listed in this Lawn Love guide<\/a> to shade-loving plants. These are a good starting point for adding new plants to your garden space, and with options from veggies to flowers and shrubs<\/a>, there\u2019s something for everyone.<\/p>
These are just a few of the best plants for a shade garden:<\/p>
- Leafy vegetables<\/strong> like lettuce, kale, and arugula<\/li>
- Impatiens<\/strong><\/li>
- Hostas<\/strong><\/li>
- Foxgloves<\/strong><\/li>
- Irises<\/strong><\/li>
- Evergreen shrubs, <\/strong>such as wintergreen and coast leucothoe<\/a><\/li>
- Evergreen flowers<\/strong>, such as hellebores<\/li>
- Heuchera\/coral bells<\/strong><\/li><\/ul>
Maximize sunlight<\/span><\/h3>
There are plenty of ways to make the most of the sunlight you get in your north-facing yard. If you have shade in the morning but sun in the afternoon, climbing vines like star jasmine or pole beans can climb to the bright side. Place plants that need a little more light at the end of the garden furthest from the house, where more sunlight can reach them.<\/p>
Add some color<\/span><\/h3>
![\"grass-outdoor-blossom-plan\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/grass-outdoor-blossom-plan.jpg\")
Pxhere<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> It\u2019s easy to cultivate green foliage in a north-facing landscape, but working with tricky light conditions doesn\u2019t mean you have to give up on the rest of your garden color palette. Rhododendrons are one flowering shrub that thrives in partial shade, while hydrangeas can handle partial to full shade and give your yard beautiful pink and blue flowers.<\/p>
Did you know?<\/strong> Bigleaf hydrangea colors are influenced by the acidity of the soil<\/a>. Acidic soils with a pH of less than 5.5 will create blue flowers, while alkaline and neutral soils will produce pink.<\/p>
Get creative with ground covers<\/span><\/h3>
![\"centipedegrass\"](\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/centipedegrass.jpg\")
Pxhere<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> Turfgrass can be tricky to grow in a north-facing landscape. Luckily, in addition to shade and disease-tolerant grasses like centipedegrass, there are plenty of ground cover options to choose from. <\/p>
If you\u2019re looking for a shade-tolerant ground cover<\/a> that also brings a bit of color to your yard, perennials like sweet woodruff and lily-of-the-valley are a lovely addition. The gorgeous white leaves of snow-on-the-mountain can also handle most shade and soil conditions.<\/p>
Incorporate containers<\/span><\/h3>
Containers provide extra flexibility and a great way to take advantage of sunnier spots in your yard, even if they\u2019re in small spaces. As a bonus, container gardens<\/a> are easy to relocate if they\u2019re not getting the light they need. Stone and terracotta planters add a beautiful Mediterranean flair.<\/p>
The final word<\/span><\/h2>
If you\u2019re trying to figure out the best options for your north-facing lawn, a landscaping professional can help you find the right fit for you. <\/p>
From shady borders and spring flowers to selecting the right plants for the rest of your lawn, our Lawn Love pros<\/a> are just a call or click away.<\/p>
Main Photo Credit: Donera<\/a> | Pexels<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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- Impatiens<\/strong><\/li>
- Morning sun: <\/strong>bright sunlight in the morning but shady in the afternoon<\/li>
- Maximize sunlight<\/a><\/li>
- Mapping sunlight in your north-facing yard<\/a><\/li>