How to Create a Full-Sun Garden | Ask This Old House

In this video, This Old House landscape contractor Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner install a full-sun garden in front of the home’s entrance for kids and guests.

Landscape contractor Jenn Nawada helps a homeowner bring new life to her backyard guest entrance. Understanding that this space receives full sun, Jenn and the homeowner pick out some sun-loving plants that will bloom throughout the year. The two plant the new flowers, grasses, shrubs, and trees in the ground, and finish it up with a thick layer of mulch to transform the gateway.

Full-sun gardens can be light, fun, and have plenty of texture to offer throughout the year. But, they do take careful planning and plant choice considerations. When a homeowner decided to dress up her backyard gate with a full-sun garden, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada answered the call.

Difficulty: ⅖
Cost: Depends on garden size and plants chosen
Time: 1 to 2 days

Where to find it?
Full-Sun Garden Plants

Choosing the right plants for a full-sun garden is key. Sun-loving plants will thrive while those that are more sensitive to heat will suffer almost immediately. The following are some full-sun plants to consider in these spaces:

Use these plants (and other full-sun varieties) to create gardens that bloom throughout the year and provide plenty of texture and movement in the garden.

Materials:

Tools:

About Ask This Old House TV:
From the makers of This Old House, America’s first and most trusted home improvement show, Ask This Old House answers the steady stream of home improvement questions asked by viewers across the United States. Covering topics from landscaping to electrical to HVAC and plumbing to painting and more. Ask This Old House features the experts from This Old House, including general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, landscape contractor Jenn Nawada, master carpenter Norm Abram, and host Kevin O’Connor. ASK This Old House helps you protect and preserve your greatest investment—your home.

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How to Create a Full-Sun Garden | Ask This Old House

[kinggkongg]

The second I start enjoying yard work and home appliances I’ll know I’m old

[AlexMiller]

One of the most engaging homeowners ever. Love this lady!

[seang]

If I was ever lost on an isolated island I would want the Old House crew with me.

[cindamersel]

Well thought out and beautiful landscape plan as usual Jen!

[jake]

Heather is so bubbly and sweet!

And she is definitely the most knowledgeable homeowner ever on TOH regarding gardens 😳

[Farm_fab]

I worked with a guy in New Mexico, and he was from Arkansas. I worked with him at a home center many years ago, and he used to talk about maneer, not manure. He soon spoke it like a native.

[TomSnyder--theJaz]

Great suggestions, Jenn.
(Homeowner: You're flying your flag backward!)

[jonboy]

Looks nice, but kinda needs a walk way so you’re not just walking through a flower bed.

[marcy]

Great job Jen. I would hv added stepping stones/pavers leading to back yard

[robinrobine]

Just once, I would like to see a landscaper follow class 101, do not plant bushes, plants so close to the house. Leave enough room for them to expand and additional space so the plants, etc. are not against the house.

[psdqvdf]

Not a single native plant. Kind of a bummer : /

[vincejuarez]

Will the plants grow once they reach the dry dirt ????

[Anamnesis]

"What exactly is in compost, Jenn?"
well if you're like most landscape suppliers: primarily rocks, clay, glass, bits of plastic, calcified minerals, huge bits of mulch, and other assorted crap you don't want in your lawn

[ronevans]

Oh wow get some equipment in there help those girls.

[StoneE]

Looks good. Hopefully those plants don't need as much water as the lawn.
Now they just need to fix the American flag in the backyard... -Accept- Except for certain situations the field of blue always goes in the upper-left corner. – 0:39