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Property/DIY

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Original poster

North facing garden

25 replies

SandyPanda · 06/01/2022 17:32

I've found the perfect house for us, but garden is North facing. It's a new build (I know not everyone likes these but it's just what we've been looking for) and not fully up yet but is that a deal breaker?

Garden not massive but not a tiny square either.

OP posts:

redpickle · 06/01/2022 17:46

I had the same worries as you recently. We're currently buying a house with a north-facing garden. We viewed quite a few and what I realised that it's not as simple as orientation good/bad it all depends on things like, how tall the house is, size of garden, other shadow-casting trees or structures around. We currently have a south-facing, tiny garden which is a real sun trap but has been losing the evening sun more and more early in the summer as the surrounding trees get bigger. We viewed somewhere south-facing that had much more shade in the garden than the north-facer we are buying due to huge trees. Also we want to extend and hopefully add a glass sky-light/lantern thingy which would be roasting in our current southerly orientation. The current owners have also have built zones in the garden that chase the sun so that made me worry less and now I'm quite excited to have different options out of the blazing sun.

xfgdhfgnhkk007 · 06/01/2022 17:52

It wouldn't be a deal breaker for me if it's a decent enough size. You'll still get some sun. If it's tiny though...

Kenwouldmixitup · 06/01/2022 17:54

Have a south-facing garden. It is an oven on hot days. Can see the appeal of north facing with big windows.

Treacletoots · 06/01/2022 17:55

Personally I wouldn't. Houses with West or South facing gardens on average sell much quicker and for more money than those with North or East.

If it's a small garden there is also a strong possibility you won't see the sun from October until April and during the summer only at the far end.

It's a hard no from me

Original poster

SandyPanda · 06/01/2022 17:58

Dammit. I love the sun and although my current garden is south facing and too hot I add a sunshade and it's perfect.

OP posts:

BlondeDogLady · 06/01/2022 18:03

We get hardly any sun in our tiny north facing town house garden. We sit in the (very sunny) front garden instead. Would this be an option? This is fine for us, as there's a lovely view out the front (village green and the sea), and our DC are grown up, so we don't need a large or sunny garden for things like swings and slides.

When I think back though, we have had large North facing gardens before, and it really didn't matter. Us and the kids didn't really spend much time in the garden.

Ratched · 06/01/2022 18:10

We have a North facing back garden which is small and a large front garden. We use the front garden in Spring and Autumn and the back garden in the heat of summer.
In summertime when the sun is high in the sky We do get quite a lot of sunshine in the back garden, but the lovely shady areas are a huge bonus.
Personally, I am happy with it, but it really is personal choice.

jackstini · 06/01/2022 18:11

Unless it has a decent front garden to sit in, it would be a deal breaker for me
Saying as someone who has had a north facing garden (mud trap - never bloody dries out) for the last 19 years
Honestly if I couldn't have used the front, I would have moved (it's about 8m long and we are in a quiet cul-de-sac, only 2 houses past ours)

NeedAHoliday2021 · 06/01/2022 18:19

I’m in the corner of a cul de sac so my garden is south and east facing but of the 18 order houses in my road:
3 are east facing
7 north facing
8 south facing

All seem to sell quickly regardless. My previous home was very small and north facing so the conservatory was useable all year. We did get a bit of moss in one corner but I wasn’t bothered.

There’s always a compromise on every house so if that’s the only issue I’d go for it.

ipswichwitch · 06/01/2022 18:26

We have a north facing garden - not tiny but not massive and in summer we get sun in the morning, then from early afternoon it becomes a bit of a sun trap at the bottom of the garden. I’m not a sun worshiper though, and quite like a shady area to sit in when it gets too hot for me.

We are at the top of a bank, not overlooked and nothing blocks the sun to our garden, apart from our own house so I’d say a lot depends on the position of the house too. The grass does get boggy in winter, so we’re having a look at what we can plant out there to help with that.

APurpleSquirrel · 06/01/2022 18:38

As another PP said, it really depends on what else is around the garden etc.
we have a north-facing garden on a new build (well it's 10 years old now but was new when we bought it) but we are on the edge of the development so have neighbours either side, but at the bottom of our garden are bungalows so we get sun in the morning; then mid-afternoon onwards in summer. It's plenty warm in summer but in winter it can be muddy.
It wouldn't put me off buying again depending on the situation.
On the flip side a friend has a south-facing back garden & it's was too hot in the summer!

BendingSpoons · 06/01/2022 18:44

In summer, our North facing garden has sun somewhere almost all day and the shade comes mainly from our own trees. It's not so great early evening, as it's mostly shade by 5/6pm. This isn't a massive issue for us, and shadows are generally pretty long by then anyway. My parents have a North facing garden which is shorter. From about 4pm you have to sit in a specific place for sun.

How tall are the houses. A neighbour had a recent loft extension and it does create more shade for us. It's not an issue but could be with a shorter garden.

Wickywoo1984 · 06/01/2022 19:14

I have a north facing garden and I love it (having previously had a south facing garden). It's long (about 40m) and we've set up the main entertaining area at the end of the garden. We get sun in the area near house until lunchtime then up the back from 12pm- 9.30. We're not overlooked at all and no large obstructions to the west side.
It really depends how big the garden is and what's around it.

Comedycook · 06/01/2022 19:16

I have a tiny north facing garden and absolutely hate it

cobblers123 · 06/01/2022 19:23

I compromised on my current house that it had a north facing back garden but I so loved the house, location and price!

Last house had south-facing and sometimes I couldn't use it it was just too hot but I thought that was what I wanted when I decided to move..

I have a decent sized garden and I much prefer the North facing one by far now. I wouldn't ever prioritise a South facing garden if I moved again.

Chewbecca · 06/01/2022 19:32

Is it due north?

If it is NW, it could be good. Our NW garden gets a lovely range of sun, including end of the day on the right hand side. Also depends on the buildings around.

JanuaryPinks · 06/01/2022 19:33

I love our north facing garden. We are on a corner so it’s not overshadowed by anything and even though it’s not big we still get plenty of sun. The bit of shade is great in warm weather with the DC and we are planning a kitchen extension with lots of glass which would be awful if it were south facing. Also means the front of the house is south facing so we have a lovely sunny living rm.

onedayoranother · 06/01/2022 19:59

I have a north facing garden. It's a mid terrace, and I get morning sun on one side and afternoon sun on the other. I don't get direct sun in the back of the house - which is fine. It's all glazed plus two skylights so plenty of light. I get sun for a good part of the day in the front living room which is nice.
You pick your plants to suit your conditions. I will go for a tropical look - stuff that is big and lush and thrives in partial shade. I have two palm trees already which is my inspiration.
I used to have a south/west facing garden and I was always putting up a gazebo or umbrella in the summer to get some shade. I won't have that problem anymore. In the winter you don't tend to sit out anyway.

garlictwist · 06/01/2022 20:13

We have a very long north facing garden. It does get a bit of sun in the summer but I usually sit on the front doorstep in the street as it's south facing and so much warmer, so the whole garden is a waste really!

DragonMovie · 06/01/2022 20:17

I have a west facing garden that gets little sun as neighbours tree is too big. My mum has a modest sized north facing garden that’s raised in level and not overlooked. I only discovered it was north facing when we came to sell it after 20 years. It’s so sunny all day long - it honestly isn’t necessarily a big deal.

astorsback · 06/01/2022 23:27

I have a long North facing garden and love it in Summer as the patio stays cool during the day but gets early morning (5am - 9 am) and late evening (6pm - 8pm) sun.

The rest of the garden gets sun all day but as the house and hedges cast shade, it moves, so i have three seating areas to catch this and a big lawn at the bottom which gets full sun.

Ive had South facing gardens before and theyre scorching in summer.

In an ideal world, I'd have a West facing garden.

Original poster

SandyPanda · 07/01/2022 08:54

Thank you, lots to think about. I'm going to have a good look at alternatives I think, I really enjoy a sunny day in the garden.

OP posts:

Curiousmouse · 07/01/2022 08:56

@SandyPanda

Dammit. I love the sun and although my current garden is south facing and too hot I add a sunshade and it's perfect.

Then you definitely ought not to proceed on this one.

rrhuth · 07/01/2022 08:57

@SandyPanda

Thank you, lots to think about. I'm going to have a good look at alternatives I think, I really enjoy a sunny day in the garden.

Then you are doing right to reconsider.

I love a north-facing garden... because I hate the sun!

AgathaX · 07/01/2022 09:07

If you love a sunny day in the garden then a north facing garden is probably not for you.

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