Where the 3 circles intersect is the spot that receives the most direct sunlight and is the ideal place to plant the vegetable garden.Īrmed with this information, you can prioritize your planting space. Repeat this process again at 12 noon and again at 4:00 p.m.

Draw a circle on the paper that depicts the area in sunshine.Ĥ. Observe where the sunlight shines on the area at 8:00 a.m.ģ. Draw the outline of the planting area on paper include shade trees or other shade-producing features.Ģ. Wait for a cloudless day and then follow these four simple steps:ġ. The ideal time to take a sun survey is in early- to mid-spring, when trees are starting to leaf out and when you’re able to see the path of the sun as it crosses your yard or planting area. All you need is a day at home, good observation skills, a pencil and a piece of paper. One of the easiest ways for finding the sunniest spot in the yard is to do a sun survey. However, many new gardeners may not be sure which part of the yard is the best spot to dig a garden bed or place a raised planter. If you read any book, magazine article or blog about planting a vegetable garden, the first words of advice are usually “choose a location that receives 8 to 10 hours of sun each day.” This is great advice and a vegetable garden does need that much sunlight to be its most productive.

Sun spotter plans