August 10, 2022
A south-facing garden is all about sun, sun and more sun, right? Sort of. South-facing gardens are highly desirable for a range of reasons and can even add 10% to the value of your property, some studies have suggested. That’s an extra £22,000 uplift on the selling price of your home, says Rightmove.
This article explores the benefits of a south-facing garden, how you can tell you have one, and some pros and cons of living there.
What is a south-facing garden?
The sun rises in the east and sets in the west. As it makes its daily journey, it casts its light – as anyone with a south-facing garden knows, they get the best of it.
On a bright sunny day, every garden should get some sun, but south-facing gardens will get the most – and that’s why they’re so desirable to homebuyers.
Here’s what you can expect with all types of gardens:
- South facing garden – sun all-day
- North facing garden – some sun in the morning and evening
- East facing garden – sunshine in the morning
- West facing garden – sunshine in the evening
During the high summer, a south-facing garden could get up to 16 hours of sunlight a day.
Of course, the orientation of your garden won’t guarantee you hours of unbroken sunshine. It also depends on the surrounding environment, including any potential structures, plants or trees that could block sunlight.
But, if you want the best chance of a sunny garden in the UK, it has to be south facing.
How to tell if you have a south-facing garden
The simplest way to tell if your house is south-facing is to stand in the garden and use a compass. Most smartphones have a compass built-in, or you can download specialist compass apps if you need to.
If you’re visiting a property for a viewing, you can do this yourself, but the chances are that the garden is south facing will already be included in the description.
You can also check the orientation of any property using the built-in compass on Google Maps or Apple Maps.
Pros of a south-facing garden
So, what’s all the fuss about a south-facing garden? Here are some of the pros of a south-facing garden.
- Sun, sun, sun – Yes, south-facing gardens get more sunlight than any other garden. You’ll be able to enjoy the sunrise, sunset and everything else in between.
- They’re warmer – It’s pretty obvious, but south-facing gardens are warmer than other gardens because of the hours of unbroke sunshine.
- Better for gardeners – Plants transform the sun’s power into food and fuel to grow, so the more sunshine, the better your garden. South-facing gardens enable gardeners to get creative and grow different species of plants that love the sun.
- Dry your clothes faster – The more sunlight, the faster your clothes will dry. Given the cost of energy, this could help you make significant savings over energy-intensive tumble dryers.
- Cleaner patio and decking – Sunshine can rapidly dry moisture, stopping areas from becoming amps. It can also reduce (but not altogether remove) the growth of mould.
Cons of a south-facing garden
South-facing gardens may be popular but can cause problems for some people. Here are some of the cons of a south-facing garden.
- It could be too hot – The recent heatwave has seen the UK experience record temperatures. Those with south-facing gardens had to bear that brunt, and it wasn’t comfortable. In fact, a south-facing garden may be too hot for some people.
- South-facing bedrooms are boiling – The sun hitting the side of the house can raise temperatures in bedrooms to uncomfortable levels. To make bedrooms bearable, you may need to invest in additional cooling, such as fans or an air conditioning unit.
- Sun can cause damage – Anything exposed to the unbroken rays of the sun can become bleached, including furniture and paintwork. In addition, the sun shining through windows can damage anything it comes into contact with, so prepare to invest in blinds!
- Cooler front of the house – Inevitably, the front can feel cooler if all the sun is focused on the rear of the property. While this can be great during the hottest summer, it can mean higher heating costs.
- Wilder weeds and more watering – What’s great for plants is excellent for weeds, too. Gardeners can find themselves battling against pests. Also, the long hours of unbroken sunshine can dry out gardens quickly, so south-facing gardeners better get used to regular watering.
Summary
South-facing properties are highly desirable for homebuyers and can add a premium to the price. But as we’ve described, they’re not for everyone. When buying a property, you should weigh all aspects before making your choice, and we can help. At Simon Blyth, we provide comprehensive information on every property to help you make the right choice. So check out our properties for sale and give us a call today.