A newly planted garden looks enchanting with freshly bedded flowers, but what happens when they fail to absorb the sunlight they need to bloom? It doesn’t take long for a poorly designed garden to look tired, gloomy and sad. The good news is that this can be avoided with a pinch of creativity and a lot of thoughtful planning. And these things come in abundance with our north facing garden ideas.
So whether you just need a small helping hand or you’re despairing that you’ve lost out on the garden lottery, here’s some actionable advice that when taken to heart can really turn things around.
What’s the deal with north facing gardens?
Before we dig deep into this topic, let’s ensure everyone’s on the same page – what is a north facing garden?
It’s as simple as it sounds. A north facing garden is when your garden (front or back) is located north of your house. As such, they’re usually bathed in shade for the majority of the day as your home blocks out that coveted daylight.
In the summer months, however, you’ll find that if your garden is long enough or your home short enough, sunlight will reach parts of your garden if not a big chunk of it. This means that things can feel gloomy from time to time, hence why you’ll see plenty of folks bemoaning their north facing gardens and running out of ideas to style them.
Advantages
Let’s dispel a few myths, beginning with the fact that northern facing gardens aren’t a death sentence. In fact, there are many elements that are actively advantageous.
For one, if your north facing garden is atop a slope and/or has been lifted up by a retaining wall, you might find that you actually get more sun than you initially expected. What’s more, north facing gardens benefit from 3-4 hours of sun between May and October, making them ripe ground for seasonal veg during that period. Rocket, lettuce, mint, oregano and more could be just around the corner…
There’s also the matter of temperature regulation. Unlike south facing gardens, which get blasted with full sun throughout the day, their opposites won’t experience the more extreme temperature fluctuations. Besides, there are a few perks to shade: if you’re sensitive to UV, it will act as a natural defence and you can enjoy light, dappled sunlight in the afternoon to evening.
Disadvantages
Of course, it’s not all sunshine as you’re well aware. Some property experts even claim that a grassless north facing garden could knock up to £20K off an otherwise desirable property’s value. Gasp!
That’s not it either. If you love basking under the sun’s rays in the summer, we have some bad news. North facing gardens are notoriously shady and will feel much cooler than their south-facing counterparts. As such, lawns here are more likely to get overtaken by moss and certain plants just won’t grow. Because of this, gardeners need to be extra thoughtful about implementing their north facing garden ideas.
The principles of garden design for north facing gardens
As with any garden, you should think of your outdoor space as an extension of your home – an outdoor room, if you will. And designing it is as simple as solving a logistical puzzle.
You have limitations in terms of shape, space, ground conditions, practical considerations such as access routes to the house/driveway, climate and, of course, natural light. It’s all about squaring up your must-haves and would-like-to-haves with these parameters.
So make sure to ask yourself about the main purpose of the garden (entertaining guests, play, pure relaxation?), who will be using it (pets, children, elderly relatives?) and which garden elements you like and dislike.
It’s also helpful to note down that north facing gardens receive full sun in the morning, partial sun in the afternoon and experience shadiness in the evening. These considerations might help you decide where to put the core elements of the design like seating. Finally, think about how much time you have for gardening – will a low maintenance scheme be more attainable?
12 north facing garden ideas
1) Exploit the potential of awkward designs
North facing plots are known for being awkward, but you can use an unusual shape or especially long, narrow garden design to your advantage. If your home casts a big shadow over your garden, try to pinpoint the areas the sunlight hits and build a scheme around them. This will create a visually interesting dimension and allow you to embrace the light.
2) Frame your north facing garden with planters
In the morning and evening, your garden will enjoy moderate to shady sunlight on its sides. Take this as an opportunity to try your hand at a variety of raised bed planting ideas or low maintenance garden border techniques. From complimentary fencing to layering textures, it’s also a simple way to make your garden all the more interesting.
3) Install a small deck in a spot the sun reaches
If you do have a tiny suntrap, make the most of it! This spot will be the perfect opportunity for creating a little seating area, ideal for breakfast under the sun. Why not try installing a small garden deck? Position it towards the direction of the afternoon sun and pair it with a pergola and some greenery for privacy screening. We suggest opting for a composite deck or another alternative if the cooler, moist conditions are a concern with timber boards.
4) Ditch the lawn for a Mediterranean-style design
As we’ve mentioned, lawns aren’t the best option when sunlight is at a premium, so we’d suggest forgoing it completely. Instead, opt for a Mediterranean-style design to stir things up. Here you can intersperse rock beds and hardscaping elements like pavers and gravel with outstretching flower beds filled with seasonal, native plants that will appreciate the dimness.
5) Trick the eye with reflective surfaces
Whether a raised pond, small water feature or garden mirror, introducing reflective surfaces into your north facing garden, will add a bit of pazazz to the design whilst reflecting light around the area. This way the effect is twofold: brightening up any gloomy corners and adding motifs to a broader scheme.
6) Stuff your garden beds with shade-loving plants
If you have a small north facing front garden, design ideas featuring green lawns aren’t generally suited to these conditions. Instead, it’s more advantageous to lean into plants that actively thrive in the cooler, filtered light of shaded areas.
One way to do this is by creating a flower bed packed with a visually stimulating variety of flora. Try a real mixture of shapes, sizes and colours for a dramatic effect. Alongside a Victorian tiled path, you can make a statement your neighbours and guests can’t ignore.
7) Editorialise your plot with railway sleeper steps
Ever wondered how you can reach the heights of the gardens you see in magazines? Introducing stylish features such as railway sleeper steps is simply one way to go about it. With a bit of DIY know-how, anyone can lay the sleepers in the garden, and when the results are this good, it’s worth the graft.
8) Look toward scented perennials
Gardens are wonderfully tactile things, but we mustn’t neglect our other senses. With fence-mounted trellises, you can give shade-inclined climbers a leg up. Varieties such as Cécile Brünner roses, Dropmore Scarlet honeysuckle and Wisteria also produce a sweet scent, stimulating your nostrils as well as your eyeballs.
9) Build a woodland retreat
To truly appreciate the merits of a north facing garden, go all out with the planting. The lush foliage of bushes and trees will help cast serene, dappled sunlight about the place, whilst natural materials will contribute to an authentic woodland feel. Keep garden edging wooden, paving rustic and furniture retro and all will come together harmoniously.
10) Uplift the surroundings using cheery colours
In a space shrouded in shade, a riot of colour will do the area a whole deal of good. From brightly painted plant pots and a variety of perennial blooms adorning the ground, there are so many ways to bring a sense of cheer back into the garden. Pair these details with a pale fence and painted decking and you can create the illusion of lightness along with an airy feel.
11) Create a portal into a whimsical world with a garden arch
To bring your idyllic north facing garden ideas into fruition, garden archways are a brilliant option. An effortless focal point, beautiful method for introducing zonal transitions and a practical structure for raising climbing plants, there are many benefits of this timeless garden feature.
12) Convert dark and damp corners into a successful bog garden
As there’s less sunlight to evaporate ground water, north facing gardens can get boggy if you’re not careful. You might want to completely rethink the irrigation, but if you’re keen to lean into nature, why not try to create a bog garden?
A bog garden is an area type of garden with moist, slow-draining soil and conditions similar to that of a natural bog. Gardeners tend to adapt waterlogged chunks of their garden into mini nature havens with water-loving plants, tiny ponds of water and animal-friendly elements.
Let your north facing plot bloom
With these 12 north facing garden ideas up your sleeve, the path to a meditative outdoor space is well within reach. Remember to identify how the light behaves in your garden during the day and throughout the year to best plan ahead. Then the rest is a matter of picking the right plants and features that will thrive in these conditions.
So if anyone says you can’t live your best life in your plot, drinking in the greenery with a book or a cuppa, you can let them know that an enviable north facing garden is possible.
