GREEN WITH ENVY: Plant according to the sun and shade in your yard | | York Guardian During my initial garden consultation, I ask clients how much sun their front or back yard receives. This question is not something most clients consider during their day-to-day lives so usually they will not know the answer or assume their outdoor space is in full sun. Sometimes, a couple will disagree on the amount of sun or shade in their garden. In this situation, I find the answer on my own. When I return to the property to take some initial measurements, I pay careful attention to the sun's direction. You can also do it yourself this summer with these simple guidelines. What time is it? Believe it or not, the intensity of sun changes at different times of the day. Morning sun between seven and eight is less intense than the sun at noon. How much sun the north-east corner of your garden receives will not be the same as the north-east corner of your neighbour's property. Large shade trees and fences will create shadows in your garden at different times of the day. My advice is to check your back garden over four time periods: nine in the morning, noon, 2 p.m., and five in the afternoon to see what the light conditions are in your garden. You can do a sketch on a piece of paper and draw a full circle for sun, a filled in circle for shade and