Plan your garden with confidence. This free tool calculates how sunlight hits your property throughout the day and across seasons. Simply enter your Australian address to see which areas receive full sun, partial shade, or deep shade — plus how your land's slope affects drainage and sun exposure. Perfect for choosing the right plants, positioning veggie patches, or understanding why parts of your lawn struggle.
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Tip: Drag the marker to position it precisely on your garden, or click anywhere on the map to place it.
Sun Exposure Directions
Sun Path Analysis
Terrain Analysis
Zone Assessment
Recommendations
Understanding Sun Exposure in Australian Gardens
Why does sun direction matter in Australia?
In the Southern Hemisphere, the sun travels through the northern sky. This means north-facing gardens receive the most sunlight, while south-facing areas remain shadier — the opposite of the Northern Hemisphere. Understanding this is essential for planning vegetable gardens, choosing plants, and diagnosing lawn problems.
How does slope affect my garden?
A north-facing slope tilts toward the sun, creating hotter, drier conditions ideal for sun-loving plants but requiring more watering. South-facing slopes tilt away from the sun, staying cooler and moister — perfect for ferns and shade plants but challenging for vegetables. Steep slopes also affect drainage, with water collecting at the bottom.
Summer vs winter sun in Queensland
In summer, the sun rises early in the south-east, climbs nearly overhead at midday, and sets late in the south-west. Days are long and shadows are short. In winter, the sun stays lower in the northern sky, rises later, sets earlier, and casts much longer shadows. A fence that barely creates shade in December might shade half your garden in June.
Common garden problems caused by sun and shade
- Lawn dying in summer — often too much sun and not enough water on north-facing areas
- Lawn thin or mossy — usually too much shade on south-facing areas
- Vegetables not fruiting — insufficient sun hours (need 6+ hours direct sun)
- Plants wilting despite watering — north-facing slopes dry out faster
- Fungal problems — poor air circulation in shaded, damp areas
Tips for Sunshine Coast gardens
The Sunshine Coast's subtropical climate means intense summer sun and mild winters. North-facing beds can get extremely hot from October to March — consider shade cloth or heat-tolerant varieties. East-facing positions work well for plants that prefer morning sun and afternoon protection. Our team at The Garden Superstore can help you choose plants suited to your garden's specific conditions.