Sunlight Issues: “More Sunlight, more blooms. Less Sunlight, less blooms.”

That’s the general rule of thumb, the shortest and hopefully the most memorable answer we can provide that may be helpful as a guide to this question “ How can I get more blooms and flowers from my plants and trees?” 

That is with all conditions being normal or good, free of trouble from disease or insect infestations, from drainage problems or really bad soil conditions for a general overview. 

As the majority of our projects are custom designs, unless we’re asked to help someone in the construction trade or working with a builder, architect or designer we know that has plans already done and they are requiring our installation for their project; the great majority of our projects we perform are custom designed by us, in house. 

Some insights into the design logic and planning of creating a landscape layout with blooms and flowers as a goal 

When going through our design process, most simply, our designs can vary greatly in different styles, all geared to help determine the tastes, needs, conditions and desires of our clients that we are privileged to serve. No matter the style, no matter the property location, we assess first what is hoped for along with the architectural conditions of the home or building, the practical needs and living or working style uses of the property. If color is a request, which it most often is, we’ll get into favorite colors and we’ll first search out what is hoped or wished for and let that be our starting point. We’ll go through budget goals and aspects of the property, the views, the desired ambience and feel, different wants and needs and then create the design to help suit all of those as best able with a focus on coming up with something our clients will hopefully like very much, possibly love. 

For getting the most blooms, the first category we’re covering, no matter the color, no matter the plant, no matter if its a tree or a bush, or a ground cover, an annual or a perennial plant, if it has flowers on it – the first answer again – the more sunlight that it receives, the greater the bloom output. 

Natural, direct, open sunshine is the first, best bloom booster we know of. If a plant is in heavy shade, less sunlight, lower bloom production can be expected. 

Another aspect of open sunshine, doesn’t matter if it is the north side, the south side, the west or east side of the home or building; sunshine is sunshine. In this meaning, it is possible to have open direct sunlight on any side of a home or building. So, open spaces when talking about sunshine, all open areas of direct sunlight help to be an equalizer of sunlight value.

What changes this factor of northern exposure verses southern exposure most significantly, which can in fact make a big difference for some, sometimes is how close a plant or tree is planted to a home or building on the north or south side of a home for example. 

NORTH SIDE EXPOSURE AGAINST A HOME OR BUILDING, LEAST AMOUNT OF SUNLIGHT 

Now, to get more specific, here in South Florida, as throughout the country and our northern hemisphere for that matter, if something is planted close to the northern side of a home or building, verses closer to the south side of a home or building, the north side will be receiving less sunlight. 

That is not to say out in the front yard, on the north side of the house, there’s a lot of open space. Depends upon the building or home, the size of the lot, the tree make up and arrangements if any. 

When talking about why one plant or tree might bloom or flower more than another of the same exact species of plant or tree, there’s factors that can affect that outcome. 

For conversation, in a means to help, let’s say that both plants or trees are in different parts of the property – and they both.