How to Design a Garden for Full Sun

A full-sun garden can transform any yard into a vibrant, colorful space filled with texture and life. These gardens thrive in areas that receive at least six hours of direct sunlight each day, making them ideal for open spaces or south-facing spots on your property. In this guide, learn how to choose the right plants for a full-sun garden and how to maintain them year-round. The accompanying video features landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, who helps a homeowner rejuvenate their backyard guest entrance with a mix of perennials, hydrangeas, daisies, and more.

Understanding Full-Sun Gardens

A full-sun garden not only adds beauty and low-maintenance appeal to your yard but also requires thoughtful planning and plant selection. Here are some key benefits of a full-sun garden:

• Drought-resistant plant options
• Extended blooming seasons
• Reduced risk of fungal diseases
• Vibrant, colorful flowers
• A wide variety of plants to choose from

Gardens that receive full sunlight tend to have fewer issues with moss or mold, promoting a healthier environment. Additionally, these gardens are less likely to attract pests that prefer humid, shaded spaces.

Choosing Plants for a Full-Sun Garden

Plants that love the sun will thrive in a full-sun garden, while those sensitive to heat may struggle. Here’s a list of great plant options for your full-sun garden:

• Big Blue Lilyturf
• Green Velvet Boxwoods
• Honorine Jobert Windflowers
• Little Limelight Hydrangeas
• Maiden Grasses
• May Night Wood Sage
• October Daphne Stonecrops
• Peonies
• Purple Coneflowers
• Shasta Daisies
• Tupelo Trees

These plants provide a mix of textures, colors, and bloom times that will keep your garden looking beautiful throughout the seasons. Whether you want a more formal look with boxwoods or a playful vibe with coneflowers and windflowers, the plants you choose will shape the overall atmosphere of your garden.

Materials and Tools Needed

• Mulch Fork
• Spade Shovel
• Wheelbarrow
• Rake
• Grub Hoe
• Pickaxe
• Compost
• Fertilizer
• Mulch
• Sod

In addition to selecting plants, here are the tools and materials needed for your full-sun garden project.

Planning the Layout of Your Full-Sun Garden

When laying out your plants, place taller species at the back and shorter ones at the front to create a layered effect that ensures all plants receive adequate sunlight. Nawada demonstrates this technique in the video, where she positions shrubs and taller plants along the foundation and places shorter perennials in the foreground.

Incorporate plants with varying textures, colors, and bloom periods to maintain visual interest throughout the year. For instance, combining the delicate texture of Maiden Grass with the bold flowers of Coneflowers and the solid structure of Boxwoods creates a dynamic display.

Be sure to space plants far enough apart to allow them to grow to their full size. Proper spacing not only reduces overcrowding but also improves air circulation, helping to prevent disease. Consider leaving room for paths or seating areas to fully appreciate the beauty of the garden.

Preparing the Soil for Your Full-Sun Garden

Healthy soil is essential for your plants to thrive. Here’s how to prepare the soil for planting:

1. Remove any grass or weeds from the area.
2. Test the soil’s pH and amend it if necessary.
3. Add organic matter, such as compost, to improve soil structure and fertility.
4. Till the soil to a depth of 8–12 inches to ensure good drainage.
5. Level the ground, creating a slight slope to encourage water runoff and prevent pooling.

Nawada and the homeowner highlight the importance of removing grass and adding compost to improve soil quality. Other organic materials, like well-rotted manure or leaf mulch, can also be used. Testing the soil will guide you in making the necessary amendments to ensure healthy plant growth.

Planting Your Full-Sun Garden

Once the soil is prepared and you’ve selected your plants, it’s time to plant:

1. Dig holes that are twice as wide as the root ball, making sure they’re just deep enough for the top of the root ball to be level with the soil surface.
2. Gently remove plants from their containers and loosen any roots that are tightly bound.
3. Place each plant in the hole and backfill with soil, firming gently to eliminate air pockets.
4. Water thoroughly to settle the soil around the roots.
5. Apply a 2–3 inch layer of mulch around the base of each plant, taking care to keep it away from the stems to prevent rot.

Planting during early morning or late afternoon helps reduce the shock caused by intense heat.

Maintaining Your Full-Sun Garden

Though full-sun gardens offer numerous benefits, they also require consistent care to stay healthy and vibrant. Here are essential tips for maintaining your garden:

Fertilizing

Apply a balanced, slow-release fertilizer in early spring to nourish your plants throughout the growing season. Follow the instructions on the package for proper application rates, and supplement with midseason fertilizers to extend blooming periods.

Mulching

Add a fresh layer of mulch every year to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and regulate soil temperature. Mulching also gives your garden a polished appearance while conserving water.

Pest Management

Regularly inspect your garden for pests and take action as needed. Using natural predators, organic insecticides, or barriers can effectively manage common garden pests without harming the environment.

Pruning and Deadheading

Remove dead or diseased foliage and spent flowers regularly to encourage new growth and maintain plant health. Deadheading can direct the plant’s energy into producing fresh blooms instead of seeds.

Watering

Full-sun gardens often require frequent watering, especially during hot spells. Water deeply and less often to encourage deep root growth. During the first two weeks after planting, water daily, then gradually reduce the frequency as the plants establish themselves.

Winter Protection

For colder climates, protect less hardy plants during the winter months by adding extra mulch or using protective covers. Pruning in the fall and applying anti-desiccant sprays can also help minimize winter damage.

Conclusion

By following these steps and properly caring for your full-sun garden, you can enjoy a colorful and vibrant space that flourishes year-round. Whether you’re creating a low-maintenance landscape or simply enhancing your outdoor area, full-sun gardens provide endless possibilities for growth, beauty, and biodiversity.