All plants require some amount of sunlight, but some species need many hours of full sun while others do best largely in shade. Before choosing plants for your landscape, observe how many hours of sun and shade various parts of the site receive. Remember to take into account that the angle of the sun changes with the time of year and that you will probably have more hours of direct sun in summer than in other seasons. Plants requiring full sun need at least six hours daily of direct sun and often produce the best form and growth if they receive sun all day. Some shade-loving plants can tolerate direct exposure to early morning sun but may suffer if directly exposed to two or more hours of midday or afternoon sun.
Wind increases the amount of water loss from a plant to the atmosphere.
The root systems of plants growing in confined situations dry out the soil quickly, and the plants are then susceptible to further drought stress from the wind. Plants in very sandy, well-drained soils are likewise vulnerable. Well-managed irrigation can partially overcome such water deficits but may be difficult to accomplish in highly urbanized sites. The best way to manage water loss on a windy site is by selecting species tolerant of drought. If soil on such a site is poorly drained, select a species that can tolerate both dry and wet soil.