How to Place Plants in Your Yard Using “Full Sun,” “Partial Sun,” “Partial Shade,” and “Shade”

1. Understand the Four Light Categories

These terms don’t just describe brightness — they refer to how many hours of direct sunlight a spot receives each day:

Term	Daily Direct Sunlight	Typical Use
Full Sun	6+ hours	Vegetables, fruiting plants, most flowering plants
Partial Sun	4–6 hours	Some herbs, annuals, and flowering perennials
Partial Shade	2–4 hours	Ferns, hostas, shade-tolerant flowers
Shade	Less than 2 hours	Woodland plants, mosses, deep-shade ornamentals

Tip: “Direct sunlight” means unfiltered light — not just bright ambient light or light passing through tree branches.

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2. Map the Sun in Your Garden

Before planting, observe how sunlight moves across your yard or patio over a full day. Divide it into zones based on exposure:

• South-facing areas (in the Northern Hemisphere): usually full sun
• East-facing areas: bright morning sun (partial sun)
• West-facing areas: hot afternoon sun (partial sun to full sun)
• North-facing areas: mostly shade or partial shade

You can also use a PAR meter like AH-PARDLI to measure actual light levels and confirm which zones match each category.

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3. Match Plant Needs to Light Conditions

Once you’ve mapped light exposure, match plants to the right spots:

• Full sun (6+ hrs): tomatoes, peppers, roses, sunflowers
• Partial sun (4–6 hrs): hydrangeas, lavender, herbs
• Partial shade (2–4 hrs): ferns, impatiens, begonias
• Shade (<2 hrs): hostas, moss, woodland flowers

This ensures plants get enough energy for photosynthesis without being stressed by excessive light.

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4. Use Light Logging for Precision (Optional but Powerful)

For gardeners who want to go beyond rough estimates, logging PAR and DLI (Daily Light Integral) over several days is extremely helpful.

• It shows exactly how much usable light a location provides.
• It can reveal seasonal changes that affect plant performance.

Devices like AH-PARDLI can automatically track daily PAR and DLI trends, helping you place plants with scientific precision instead of guesswork.

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In short:

• “Full sun” to “shade” is a simple, intuitive way to plan plant placement.
• Mapping sunlight exposure — either by observation or with a meter — helps you match plant species to the right microclimates.
• With precise data, you can go beyond basic categories and optimize every corner of your garden.