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how to be a gardener - The complete online guide BBC Homepage Lifestyle Gardening Part One Part Two Are you signed in? Go here for more information Know your plot Assessing your plot Light Temperature Wind Moisture Analysing your soil Drawing a survey Test your knowledge Go further Plant lists Interactives Glossary Credits Programme information Help with plugins Gardening newsletter Site map
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1 - Assessing your plot Print page The importance of light Put bluntly, plants die without sunlight. Sunlight is the ‘engine’ that powers growth - a process called photosynthesis. In the wild (which is where most garden plants come from) light levels vary. Being cunning little chaps, different plants evolved to thrive in different levels of light. Clearly the amount of light your garden gets will have a big impact on what plants grow well.
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Garden aspect © Aspect The overall amount of light received depends on aspect, the direction your garden faces. Use a compass.
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1. Know your plot Introduction Assessing your plot Light Temperature Wind Moisture Analysing your soil Drawing a survey Test your knowledge Go further
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Plant lists
Plant lists Plants for different lighting conditions: Plants for shade Plants for partial shade Plants for sunny areas Find thousands more plants in the BBC Gardening database .
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Video Why is light so important to your plants? The importance of light Light levels research
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