The practice of creating a sun chart will give you so much clarity. It will transform your whole understanding of your gardens potential.
When I tell people that I teach how to grow an abundant garden, a lot of people say, “I wish I could grow a garden but I have no idea where to start, what to plant, or how to take care of it properly without guessing”.
Most find it too overwhelming and difficult to even begin. I experienced all of this when I started on my journey into gardening.
That’s why I want to share with you one piece of the planning puzzle that is essential. Until you understand the potential of all the places you can grow in your home and yard, it will be next to impossible to grow confidently and successfully from season to season.
Watch the video below and you will learn the easy steps to REALLY understanding how the sun moves through your space. You will be able to track the exact number of hours of sun you get, as well as whether it is full sun or diffused sun (ie. through leaves on a tree).
This will provide the foundation to make the rest of your planning decisions with confidence. By breaking down the planning process and focusing on one important piece at a time it will keep the process bite-sized and manageable.
This one very small step can answer some of your biggest questions at the beginning of the season.
Your sun chart can give you answers to:
- How much sun you are REALLY getting.
- Which varieties are going to be most successful and where.
- Every corner of potential growing space you have (it’s always more than we first think).
- You will get answers to why things AREN’T working in certain areas.
- You will find out where you can plant earlier and later in your season.
- Which seeds you should buy.
- Identify microclimates.
Identifying all the little microclimates around my yard helped me to place specific plants right in their happy place. A happy plant is a resilient and productive plant so should always aim to place them in the best spot.
Creating Your Own Sun Chart
Step 1: Gather up several sheets of paper, a black pen and some coloured pens, pencils or markers.
Step 2: Draw out small sections of your yard and growing space to keep it clear and easy to understand next season and for many to come.
Step 3: Start on a sunny day so you can clearly seed the shadows. Set a timer for every hour after the sun comes up and draw on your pages where you have shade.
TIP: Don’t try and fit an entire day on one sheet. Break it down to morning, afternoon and evening so you don’t end up with a bunch of unreadable scribbles.
If you’ve ever wondered how to start planning your next garden, then this is a MUST-WATCH. This is one of the very first things I teach my students.
Be sure to send me an email with any questions if they come up at info@themindfullivingmovement.com. I would love to help!
Each spring I host a free garden planning workshop where I teach how to use the knowledge you have learned about your sun chart to make better planning and planting decisions. Subscribe to my email list below so you don’t miss it and other essential tips!
Once you have discovered the planting opportunities based on your sun it is time to start making decisions on what seeds will be best suited to your growing space. Find everything you need to know here Choose The Best Seed Variety For Success In YOUR Growing Zone & Garden.
