North facing garden...is it worth it

robatwork

This question is a perennial favourite here, you can try a search. The answer always is - it depends. 

For example - here are 2 rows of houses, the ones at the bottom have N facing gardens with the top row facing S.  

I can't tell you exactly which time of year the photo was taken, but as you can see they have generous gardens (30m ish at a guess), and no lack of sun in the N facing ones, but no sun on the patio. That can be bad news or fantastic, depending on your preference. 

Also try http://suncalc.net/ and put in the details. 

sgun

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

I would absolutely hate it. In fact I wouldn't even view houses with north facing gardens. Friends of ours bought in haste and only realised after buying that to get any sun after they get home from work they need to sit in the front garden which isn't private. So it isn't really about what other people think - it's about how much having sun in the evenings is a deal breaker for you - and how much sun you will actually get in the evenings (potentially not much if there are other buildings shading the light).

Sounds like one example of a really bad experience. Unless the garden is exactly North facing and very short, it's going to get some sun, even in the evening.

In my North North East facing back garden, the last of the evening sunshine lands right in the corner where I built the first of two patios. The front only gets maybe half an hour more sunshine max. 

But you're right. There are situations where you'd get no sun in the evening, but I think these are the exception rather than the rule. 

I am a garden designer  and I like sunshine. So north facing is a big, big no for me. I could work with one and turn it into a shady oasis but if sun is important then north facing is not gong to do what you want.

[Deleted User]

Its very unlikely that even with a NF garden you will get zero sun, unless it is tiny and surrounded by other properties/trees. 

I think in general, NF gardens get mostly shade on the 'house end', and sun on the 'fence end'. The amount of sun will depend on the length of the garden. 

Flugelhorn

Moved to a house last summer with small north facing garden. We were very relieved during the very sunny weeks and friends opposite struggled to keep the kitchens cool. Would like a bit more sun in the winter but glad to have some handy shade in the summer

[Deleted User]

sgun said:

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

I would absolutely hate it. In fact I wouldn't even view houses with north facing gardens. Friends of ours bought in haste and only realised after buying that to get any sun after they get home from work they need to sit in the front garden which isn't private. So it isn't really about what other people think - it's about how much having sun in the evenings is a deal breaker for you - and how much sun you will actually get in the evenings (potentially not much if there are other buildings shading the light).

Sounds like one example of a really bad experience. Unless the garden is exactly North facing and very short, it's going to get some sun, even in the evening.

In my North North East facing back garden, the last of the evening sunshine lands right in the corner where I built the first of two patios. The front only gets maybe half an hour more sunshine max. 

But you're right. There are situations where you'd get no sun in the evening, but I think these are the exception rather than the rule. 

I am a garden designer  and I like sunshine. So north facing is a big, big no for me. I could work with one and turn it into a shady oasis but if sun is important then north facing is not gong to do what you want.

With respect, if you're a garden designer, and you are dead set against North facing gardens, I'd seriously question your credentials. You can't say to me that North facing gardens are shady when I've sat out there baking, and more than once come in sunburnt after a few hours of pottering, or drank ice cold cider in my deck chair on my lawn with my cap on to keep the sun out of my eyes.

Yes you get shade in a North facing garden, but it's not some gloomy nightmare. The shade moves throughout the day, but you'd know that, being a garden designer and all. 

mooncake89

Like others have said, a lot of it depends on how long the garden is and what is around you that could cast shadows. My partner's mum's garden is surprisingly sunny even though it's north facing and quite a tall house (it must be clear to the west).

 During our own house hunt we looked at some houses with north or east facing gardens and I almost convinced myself I'd be ok with that but then when we viewed ones with south or west facing gardens, I knew that was what I really wanted. It's important to me to be able to be near the house on a sunny patio and also for us to grow lots of plants and vegetables. But if you're not too fussed about perhaps creating a seating area at the end of the garden, maybe you'll find it not to be a dealbreaker. See if you can get there on a sunny day for a second viewing, as that will massively help you to see what areas are likely to be in sunshine and which in shade. http://suncalc.net is really useful, too.

wannabe_a_saver

I love my north facing garden.  It has two patio areas, one near the house that is mostly in shade and lovely and cool year round, and another one at the far end that gets loads of sun from spring till autumn.  

sgun

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

I would absolutely hate it. In fact I wouldn't even view houses with north facing gardens. Friends of ours bought in haste and only realised after buying that to get any sun after they get home from work they need to sit in the front garden which isn't private. So it isn't really about what other people think - it's about how much having sun in the evenings is a deal breaker for you - and how much sun you will actually get in the evenings (potentially not much if there are other buildings shading the light).

Sounds like one example of a really bad experience. Unless the garden is exactly North facing and very short, it's going to get some sun, even in the evening.

In my North North East facing back garden, the last of the evening sunshine lands right in the corner where I built the first of two patios. The front only gets maybe half an hour more sunshine max. 

But you're right. There are situations where you'd get no sun in the evening, but I think these are the exception rather than the rule. 

I am a garden designer  and I like sunshine. So north facing is a big, big no for me. I could work with one and turn it into a shady oasis but if sun is important then north facing is not gong to do what you want.

With respect, if you're a garden designer, and you are dead set against North facing gardens, I'd seriously question your credentials. You can't say to me that North facing gardens are shady when I've sat out there baking, and more than once come in sunburnt after a few hours of pottering, or drank ice cold cider in my deck chair on my lawn with my cap on to keep the sun out of my eyes.

Yes you get shade in a North facing garden, but it's not some gloomy nightmare. The shade moves throughout the day, but you'd know that, being a garden designer and all. 

Oh dear. Fragile ego alert. Don't be offended that I have a different opinion on north facing gardens. Wouldn't it be a boring old world if we all liked the same things? I'm not criticising your north facing garden or indeed the choice that many other people make in having a north facing garden. They can be shady, they can have areas that are sunny. I don't like them, that's my choice. Unfortunately in threads like this everyone's opinion is just that - and equally valid so I don't feel that there is any reason for you to be rude or offended.
If the OP really wants to see how much sun the garden gets then they need to visit at different times and see for themselves. 

[Deleted User]

sgun said:

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

I would absolutely hate it. In fact I wouldn't even view houses with north facing gardens. Friends of ours bought in haste and only realised after buying that to get any sun after they get home from work they need to sit in the front garden which isn't private. So it isn't really about what other people think - it's about how much having sun in the evenings is a deal breaker for you - and how much sun you will actually get in the evenings (potentially not much if there are other buildings shading the light).

Sounds like one example of a really bad experience. Unless the garden is exactly North facing and very short, it's going to get some sun, even in the evening.

In my North North East facing back garden, the last of the evening sunshine lands right in the corner where I built the first of two patios. The front only gets maybe half an hour more sunshine max. 

But you're right. There are situations where you'd get no sun in the evening, but I think these are the exception rather than the rule. 

I am a garden designer  and I like sunshine. So north facing is a big, big no for me. I could work with one and turn it into a shady oasis but if sun is important then north facing is not gong to do what you want.

With respect, if you're a garden designer, and you are dead set against North facing gardens, I'd seriously question your credentials. You can't say to me that North facing gardens are shady when I've sat out there baking, and more than once come in sunburnt after a few hours of pottering, or drank ice cold cider in my deck chair on my lawn with my cap on to keep the sun out of my eyes.

Yes you get shade in a North facing garden, but it's not some gloomy nightmare. The shade moves throughout the day, but you'd know that, being a garden designer and all. 

Oh dear. Fragile ego alert. Don't be offended that I have a different opinion on north facing gardens. Wouldn't it be a boring old world if we all liked the same things? I'm not criticising your north facing garden or indeed the choice that many other people make in having a north facing garden. They can be shady, they can have areas that are sunny. I don't like them, that's my choice. Unfortunately in threads like this everyone's opinion is just that - and equally valid so I don't feel that there is any reason for you to be rude or offended.
If the OP really wants to see how much sun the garden gets then they need to visit at different times and see for themselves. 

No fragile ego here. Just challenging your view. Here we are on a thread where someone is thinking of buying a house but is a bit put off by the North facing garden. And one person on it is trying to imply, against all evidence, that North facing gardens are always in the shade, then trying to trump everyone else's experience with the line that they're a garden designer, and therefore know better.

Of course you're entitled to your opinion, and I love a good debate as much as anyone, and sometimes that results in my viewpoint changing, and that's great. But unless I'm mistaken, your stance is not that in your opinion, North facing gardens are not great, but rather in your professional experience, fact, they get no sun.

That said, I'm not looking for an argument. My North facing garden gets plenty of sun. Others have said theirs do. You've seen one that didn't. 

wannabe_a_saver

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

Beardybaldy said:

sgun said:

I would absolutely hate it. In fact I wouldn't even view houses with north facing gardens. Friends of ours bought in haste and only realised after buying that to get any sun after they get home from work they need to sit in the front garden which isn't private. So it isn't really about what other people think - it's about how much having sun in the evenings is a deal breaker for you - and how much sun you will actually get in the evenings (potentially not much if there are other buildings shading the light).

Sounds like one example of a really bad experience. Unless the garden is exactly North facing and very short, it's going to get some sun, even in the evening.

In my North North East facing back garden, the last of the evening sunshine lands right in the corner where I built the first of two patios. The front only gets maybe half an hour more sunshine max. 

But you're right. There are situations where you'd get no sun in the evening, but I think these are the exception rather than the rule. 

I am a garden designer  and I like sunshine. So north facing is a big, big no for me. I could work with one and turn it into a shady oasis but if sun is important then north facing is not gong to do what you want.

With respect, if you're a garden designer, and you are dead set against North facing gardens, I'd seriously question your credentials. You can't say to me that North facing gardens are shady when I've sat out there baking, and more than once come in sunburnt after a few hours of pottering, or drank ice cold cider in my deck chair on my lawn with my cap on to keep the sun out of my eyes.

Yes you get shade in a North facing garden, but it's not some gloomy nightmare. The shade moves throughout the day, but you'd know that, being a garden designer and all. 

That surprised me too, I'd have thought an experienced garden designer would have seen more than their fair share of sunny north facing gardens!