Sun gardening means growing plants in full sun — six or more hours of direct sun a day, often on a south-facing plot with little shade. A sunny garden is a gift: most vegetables, herbs and flowers need sun to grow well, flower freely and fruit heavily, and a sunny garden can be the most productive and colourful garden of all.
But full sun also brings challenges: soil dries out fast, leaves can scorch, and plants need more water than they would in shade. The key is to choose plants that love sun, keep the soil moist with mulch and compost, water deeply, and give yourself and your plants some shade to rest in. If you are unsure which plants suit your sunny site and soil, check your local extension service for local recommendations.
What full sun means for plants
Full sun means six or more hours of direct sun a day, and in a south-facing garden it can mean sun from morning to evening. Most vegetables need full sun to fruit well: tomatoes, peppers, courgettes, beans, squash and sweetcorn all need sun, and they will crop poorly in shade. Most herbs need sun too, especially Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage and lavender, which evolved in sunny, dry places. Most flowers need sun to flower freely: roses, sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, dahlias and marigolds all flower best in full sun. But full sun also means heat and drying: soil loses moisture fast, leaves lose water through their pores, and shallow-rooted plants can wilt by midday. The answer is not to water more often, but to water deeply, mulch thickly, and choose plants that can cope. Our vegetables sunlight requirements and herbs sunlight requirements guides explain how much sun each crop needs.
Best plants for full sun
Sun-loving plants are some of the most rewarding in the garden. Vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, chillies, courgettes, beans, squash, sweetcorn and aubergines all thrive in sun — see growing tomatoes, growing bell peppers and growing zucchini. Herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, oregano, basil and lavender love sun and need little water once established — see growing rosemary and growing basil. Flowers such as sunflowers, zinnias, cosmos, marigolds, dahlias, coneflowers and salvias flower for months in sun. See growing sunflowers and growing zinnias. Fruit such as strawberries, raspberries, grapes and figs all need sun to ripen well. Avoid shade-loving plants such as hostas, ferns and hydrangeas in full sun — they will scorch and struggle. Choose plants for the sun you have, and they will reward you with growth and colour.
Watering and mulching in the sun
Watering is the biggest job in a sunny garden, and doing it well matters more than doing it often. Water deeply and rarely, so roots grow down to where the soil stays moist, and water in the early morning, when evaporation is lowest. Avoid watering in the heat of the day, when water evaporates before it soaks in and droplets can scorch leaves. Drip irrigation or soaker hoses are ideal for sunny beds, because they deliver water slowly to the roots with little waste — see our drip irrigation and soaker hoses guides. Mulch everything: a 5–8 centimetre layer of compost, bark, straw or gravel stops evaporation, keeps roots cool, and suppresses weeds. Our mulch types guide compares the options, and the mulch calculator works out how much you need. The watering calculator helps you estimate how much water your beds need. And collect rainwater where you can — see our rain barrels guide.
Soil for sunny gardens
Sunny soil dries out fast, so it needs organic matter to hold moisture. Dig in compost every year, and mulch after planting, so the soil stays moist and cool. On sandy soil, compost is essential, because sand drains fast and holds little water — see our sandy soil improvement guide. On clay soil, compost improves drainage and structure, so roots can grow deep — see our clay soil improvement guide. Do not over-feed sunny plants: too much fertiliser produces soft, leafy growth that wilts in sun and attracts pests. Compost once a year is enough for most, with a liquid feed for hungry crops such as tomatoes and squash. Test the soil pH if plants are struggling — our soil pH testing guide explains how — and choose plants to match the soil you have. A sunny garden with good, compost-rich soil will need less water and less work than one with poor, bare soil.
Shade for people and plants
Even a sunny garden needs some shade — for people as well as for plants. A tree, a pergola, a parasol or a shade sail gives you somewhere cool to sit, and it gives tender plants somewhere to rest in the hottest part of the day. Plant tall crops such as sweetcorn and sunflowers where they will shade smaller plants in the afternoon, and use shade cloth over salad leaves and herbs in a heatwave — see our shade cloth guide. Grow climbers such as grapes, beans and sweet peas over a pergola for living shade that also feeds you. Leave a seating area in the shade of a tree, and keep a water butt and a watering can nearby so watering is easy. A sunny garden that has no shade at all is hard to enjoy in summer, so plan shade into the design from the start, not as an afterthought. Our garden design basics guide helps with the layout.
Designing a sunny garden
Design a sunny garden for colour and productivity. Use drifts of the same flower for bold colour, and mix vegetables, herbs and flowers together so the garden is both useful and beautiful — see our edible landscaping guide. Use gravel paths and stone walls, which suit a sunny garden and store heat, releasing it at night. Use pots and troughs for herbs near the kitchen door, and raised beds for vegetables, because they warm up fast in spring. Think about the seasons: spring bulbs, summer flowers and vegetables, autumn fruit and berries, and evergreen herbs and shrubs for winter structure. Leave room for paths, so you can reach plants to water and harvest them, and do not overcrowd — plants in full sun need air around them to stay healthy. A sunny garden designed well will be the brightest, busiest and most rewarding part of your home.
Common mistakes to avoid
The biggest mistake is watering little and often in the heat of the day, which evaporates before it reaches the roots and can scorch leaves. The second is leaving soil bare in full sun, so it dries out, crusts over and loses moisture within hours — mulch is essential. The third is planting shade-loving plants in full sun, where they will scorch and fail. The fourth is over-feeding, which produces soft growth that wilts and attracts pests. The fifth is planting too closely, so plants shade each other, compete for water, and suffer from fungal diseases in still, humid air. The sixth is forgetting shade for yourself: a sunny garden with nowhere cool to sit is hard to enjoy. Finally, do not assume that a sunny garden needs no planning — the sunniest spot is not always the best for every plant, so match each plant to the sun, soil and water it needs, and check your local extension service if plants keep scorching or wilting.
Frequently asked questions
How many hours of sun is full sun?
Six or more hours of direct sun a day. Most vegetables, herbs and sun-loving flowers need full sun to grow, flower and fruit well. If your garden gets less than six hours, grow part-shade plants instead, or use the sunniest spot you have for the crops that need it most.
How often should I water a sunny garden?
Water deeply and rarely, in the early morning, so water soaks down to the roots. In hot weather, most beds need watering every day or two, and pots need watering daily. Mulch thickly to hold moisture, and use drip irrigation or soaker hoses to reduce waste.
What vegetables need full sun?
Tomatoes, peppers, chillies, courgettes, squash, beans, sweetcorn, aubergines and melons all need full sun to fruit well. Leafy crops such as lettuce and spinach cope with part shade, and they are slower to bolt there than in full sun.
How do I stop plants scorching in full sun?
Mulch to keep roots cool, water deeply in the morning, and give tender plants afternoon shade with shade cloth, a tree or tall crops. Choose sun-loving plants that can cope with heat, and avoid planting shade lovers in full sun.
Can I grow a sunny garden in pots?
Yes — pots warm up fast and suit sun-loving herbs, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. Use large pots, water daily in summer, mulch the surface, and feed weekly, because nutrients wash out of pots quickly. Group pots together so they shade each other.