If you've been looking at some of the beautiful landscaping surrounding many Atlanta homes for sale and wondering why some of them look so much nicer than yours, it may be a simple matter of sun mapping. That may sound like the latest hack, but it's actually a tried-and-true procedure used by the most successful gardeners. It's simply a method of identifying where to place each plant according to its sunlight needs. While there are gadgets available to do the job, most are a waste of money. They do measure the sunlight accurately, but they don't create the map that you will ultimately need. Why not enjoy your time outdoors and do the job right without spending a penny?

• Sketch the area to be planted
  This may be a simple rectangle, but more than likely, there will be trees and walls that create shady spots throughout the day. These are the areas you will eventually identify and record. The map doesn't need to be exact or to scale as long as you can follow it later. One thing to consider is the shade that will be cast by the canopy of a tree without leaves. You may have to estimate.
  
  
• Monitor the shadows
  Start as early as you can manage and sketch in the shaded areas with a light line. Indicate the time you are recording. Repeat this process every hour or two throughout the day. You may find it helpful to use a colored pencil to distinguish each time frame. Otherwise, just create dashed lines of varying lengths to indicate the shade-filled area. At the end of the day, you'll be able to chart which parts of the space receive the most sun and which spent longer in the shade.
  
  
• Determine which plants are appropriate for each light zone
  On the back of each packet of seeds and on the tags on plants purchased at garden centers, you'll find sun requirements. They generally fall into one of four categories:

1. • Full sun means at least six hours of direct sunlight. Heat-tolerant plants include such favorites as lantana, marigold, mums, zinnias, and lavender. Most fast-growing vegetables also require six to eight hours of direct sun throughout the growing season.
     
     
   • Partial sun, sometimes called partial shade, means three to six hours of sunlight. Local plants that thrive in this environment are astilbe, columbine, Helleborus (or the Christmas rose), and vinca. In the vegetable garden, root vegetables are generally tolerant of partial shade but do better with occasional direct sun. Better choices are leaf vegetables such as chard and spinach.
     
     
   • Dappled sun means three to four hours of inconsistent light. As sunlight filters through the leaves of trees and bushes, you will often this effect. This is the perfect world for burning hearts, Jacqueline postill, coral pink, and neon lights.
      
   • Full shade means less than three hours of direct sunlight. A surprising number of plants and trees thrive in the shade, such as coral bells, flax lily, wood aster, and lobelia. Most vegetables will not do well in full shade. 

• Map the garden
  Now that you know which plants will grow best in each area of your yard, add planting notes to your map. When your plans are complete, you can start to plant. If you have any questions as you purchase your seeds and plants, be sure to ask the experts at your local garden center. They'll be happy to help you succeed.

Speaking of experts, whether you're selling your home or buying one, our real estate agents will be happy to help. Contact us for a consultation.