The joys(?) of a south facing garden

Our house has a south facing garden and we love it. Because of its position it gets the sun nearly all day. It is mainly on the side of our house with large patio doors leading on to the garden. We have special glass in them which filters out harmful rays.

The garden is completely private but we have some trees up one corner if we need a bit of shade. We have a corner summerhouse which is cool in the morning and then gets the sun all day until the very last rays.

mabon1 I’m going to excuse your extreme rudeness, as you must be under severe stress worrying about your dear daughter, reach out for help here rather than antagonise.

Oh for goodness sake stop moaning. You'd have something to moan about if your daughter was dying of cancer, weighing less than 5 stone and in constant pain, get a life woman.

jeanie99

We wouldn't purchase a property unless it was south on the back.
We live in an area of bungalows with no one overlooking our back garden. Retired couples like ourselves each side, total tranquility.
When it is a lovely morning I quite often go out and have my first cup of tea of the day relaxing and looking at my lovely garden.

I’m with you jeanie - out most mornings in my dressing gown to sit under the tree for that first chamberpot ☕️ of Yorkshire gold, listening to the birdies!

It’s in the winter with the low sun that I get most benefit from my awning , it keeps the living quarters pleasant without having to close the curtains

Tuaim

Indeed, the weather has been glorious. I have a south facing garden at the top of a hill leading up from the beach. It has very sandy soil so I need to be careful what I plant. In the past I collected seeds from wild maritime plants and have filled my garden with plants like tree mallow, thrift, agrimony, cornflower, corn marigold, Red campion, Viper's Bugloss etc. Anything that will grow in sandy soil and the bees and wildlife love it. With the tree mallow the bees love the flowers, the starlings eat the seeds and then use the bark to make their nests and strip the wood bare - wonderful. It can get very hot so a few palm trees provide just that little bit of shade when needed. Water is obtained from collected rain water in water butts to make sure the plants don't go thirsty. Bit of a sea mist this morning but I think it will burn off.

Your garden sounds glorious Tuaim.. I love Derek Jarman's garden in Dungeness and the beach walks by Shoreham for their plants..
I have a S/W mediterranean type very small garden, shaded by bamboo.... and also benefit from the N/E sunshine in my bedroom early mornings..

GrannyIvy, I thought the same about those less fortunate without a garden or outside space. Our garden is SW facing, with many trees, some in our garden but also in the woods beyond the back fence. I’m outside at every opportunity.

We have a SW facing house and have a huge awning at the back which keeps the house cool and a couple of trees for shade. Plants against the house do well but those in the shade of the back fence not so well.

mae13

Celebrate! Come winter and you will be glad of facing South.

No, not really.

I only notice hte alighment of the house in summer hot weather when I have to protect the house from overheating from all the sun pouring in.

I have a lovely south/west garden and enjoy the sun in it most of the day. I count myself lucky to have a garden and sounds like many of you have beautiful gardens. Reading this thread though I felt for those who don’t have a garden and I am sure there are many out there.

Celebrate! Come winter and you will be glad of facing South.

We wouldn't purchase a property unless it was south on the back.
We live in an area of bungalows with no one overlooking our back garden. Retired couples like ourselves each side, total tranquility.
When it is a lovely morning I quite often go out and have my first cup of tea of the day relaxing and looking at my lovely garden.

A dd has a S facing garden and an extension with bifolds (very often wide open) on the kitchen. But the former owners had planted a small ornamental tree on what is now the patio, which does a great job of keeping too much sun off the kitchen.

My south west facing garden is blooming well, roses honeysuckle, salvias, all the rain set it up, and a quick water on odd days, my patio door shutters help to keep out the glare and keep kitchen fairly cool,living North East Coast always a breeze going. Living room faces North so always cool,
Loving the weather.

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I love my South facing garden.

On the rare hot day the garden table parasol keeps the sun off of sitting room window, no need to close curtains. We do (rarely) draw the curtains over the french doors at

My front garden is south facing with 2 vehicles parked on the drive. I have 2 deep flower beds one on either side with very tall shrubs planted. Yet if you touch the vehicles you burn yourself and it's impossible to ever work out there when the sun is out as you feel ill within minutes. I'm grateful for the sun but the only great thing about facing due south is my solar panels on the roof and being able to run my air/ con free of charge. My house is a funny shape so although my back garden faces north it's never shady even though I've planted a multitude of trees. I too love my house and gardens but after living here for nearly thirty years I've learnt it's foibles and live accordingly.

Our house has a South-facing garden. The good thing is that the living room (at the front of the house) stays nice and cool.

Do not get me wrong, I love my house and the garden. It was just yesterday with the sun and heat at its height. I couldn't see it until evening because of the need to draw curtains and blinds to keep the over-bright sunshine and heat out of the house.

Indeed, the weather has been glorious. I have a south facing garden at the top of a hill leading up from the beach. It has very sandy soil so I need to be careful what I plant. In the past I collected seeds from wild maritime plants and have filled my garden with plants like tree mallow, thrift, agrimony, cornflower, corn marigold, Red campion, Viper's Bugloss etc. Anything that will grow in sandy soil and the bees and wildlife love it. With the tree mallow the bees love the flowers, the starlings eat the seeds and then use the bark to make their nests and strip the wood bare - wonderful. It can get very hot so a few palm trees provide just that little bit of shade when needed. Water is obtained from collected rain water in water butts to make sure the plants don't go thirsty. Bit of a sea mist this morning but I think it will burn off.

We have a south facing garden it's wide, rather than long. Two things attracted me to the house when I first saw it, the width of the kitchen and their doors that cantilever out on to the patio with a view over the garden and the trees that are behind our back fence and the wonderful screening they provide. Athough come Autumn their leaves are all over the lawn I love feeling ensconced in greenery, as I did today, spending most of the afternoon in the garden with a book. Glorious weather.

kittylester

Our back garden is south facing but the lounge and our bedroom are North facing - best of both worlds.

We're the same.

I deliberately bought an east/west house. My last house was eco and s facing and even with verandahs it was so hot. At least here I start to get shade early afternoon and can sit out. The garden is mostly south facing but I have a shady end by the house

My neighbour is south facing with through rooms downstairs. No-where to escape the intense sun

Our back garden is south facing but the lounge and our bedroom are North facing - best of both worlds.

I've always liked having a south facing garden but now find it too bright and hot and have to hide in the shade!