Track the sunshine in your garden

Easter lockdown activity: Different plants like different amounts of light, so as you are at home this weekend take the opportunity to find out where the sunny and shady spots are in your garden.

You could take photos every hour or two, but if you have children in the household keep them busy by getting them to mark the edges of the shadows as they move throughout the day (making sure they note the times for each marker). They could use hoses, twine, canes, scarves, socks – whatever they can find!

Less than two hours of sunshine is deep shade and you probably won’t get anything much to grow. More than six hours of sunshine counts as full sun. And in between is partial shade.

Anything that wants shade or part-shade shouldn’t really be planted where they are going to get the hottest midday sun: plants like Hydrangeas, white Dicentras, Fuchsias and gold-leaf shrubs can end up frazzling.

Armed with this information you can now pick the best plants for each spot.