North west garden - yes or no?

[mhn1]

Going to view a property today that has great potential for us as a family - location great, good schools, great layout etc. Only potential downside is that garden is north-west facing and is on 3 levels. We live in a hilly area so this might’ve always been the case which is unfortunate due to having a 1 year old!
Would a north-west garden be a deal breaker? What could I expect the sun to be like?

Thanks!

Here's a Gardeners World page with handy diagram for shade in a garden: www.gardenersworld.com/plants/types-of-garden-shade/ North West wouldn't put me off because the back fence plants with get all the south sun, and there's enough variety for the side fences that you can have a wide variety of plants. And you should get lovely evening sun right next to the house without being roasted at noon. Perfect.

It depends on the shape of the garden, whether there's trees around etc.

Depends on the height of the house, surrounding trees/buildings and length of garden. You'd get barely any sun directly behind the house in the winter months, but when the sun is high in the summer, you will get the sun for most of the day - especially from midday onwards. The only thing is, you'll never get the sun streaming through the windows/doors at the back of the house - unless you get roof windows.

My parents garden faces NW and is lovely...plenty of sun although not right next to the house until the evening as a PP says.

My garden is east facing and frankly a bit shit!

You'll get evening sun. And top of garden unless surrounded by trees should get a lot of sun. Right by the house less so.

It depends on the size of the garden, whether the terraces go up or down, and how sun-oriented you are and if you are a big gardener then what kind of gardening you like. For me the garden has to be south-to-west oriented because I am a sunbaby and can only afford a small space. But that's me, not you.

It depends on the surrounding buildings and shape of the garden.

I used to visit someone whose north facing garden seemed to have sun most of the day, certainly in the afternoon and evening - the most important time!

It was oblong along the back of the house, in a long terrace of houses, with no tall buildings at either end of terrace.

Mine is nw facing and we do get a lot of sun. In the winter less so and in the summer after about 5pm we are in shade, but that's more to do with the flats between us and the sunset. I was always dubious about a n or nw facing garden, but I have been pleasantly surprised.

Our front gardens nw facing. At the moment the sun is about a meter in front of the fence. It's quite handy in the height of summer as you can move from the back garden to the front to cool down or vice versa. I'm not really one for cooking myself in the garden but I couldn't live in a house with just a NW garden.

Depends on how much you think you’d use the garden. In the last few days of lovely weather so many people in our village sat in their front gardens because they presumably didn’t have any sun in their north facing back gardens.

It really depends as others have said. Having lived with a south / west facing garden for more than a decade now I’d struggle to accept any other, it’s absolutely lovely.

We have a NNW and it’s not an issue at all, sun across the back and to the east until about noon this time of year and then switches over to the other side and starts coming in at the west side until eventually settling at back of house until sun sets. We always have more than enough garden in the sun. So a bit of seat moving as the day goes on particularly early in the year but otherwise fabulous, we outside in garden enjoying the sun from 12 until 7pm yesterday and it’s only March . I was massively worried about it coming from a WF but in fact as this one is in a less built up area with nothing to the west of us it’s actually much better for the sun. Don’t rule it out !!

Loads of variables, including whether you like sitting in the sun or not. The last few summers have had some very hot periods and that's a trend that is set to continue. For me personally I don't like sitting in the sun, so am happy with our north facing tiered garden that still gets loads of sun due to the size and surrounding houses but always has somewhere shady to sit. If you have a 1 year old I guess you would want some shade for them, whether it's too much for you is tricky to answer really. As others have said it depends on the surround layout.

I wouldn't want an eastern or north eastern back garden but I think the other directions would work for me. I think it just depends on your preferences.
I currently don't have a garden at all which I do miss after having a south westerly one for many years.

We have north west facing and get loads of sun. Especially in the afternoon and evening. Only bit of garden which doesn't get much is right near the house.

Just bought a north facing garden from another north facing garden, loads of people buy them as not always that much choice in a city! I am sure it put people off but for us it meant a massive house in outstanding school catchments for primary and secondary (obviously could change) and in a lovely area.

I actually made my peace with north facing for one reason - in the heat of the summer you can have doors and windows open and there is deep shade at the back of the house for toddlers to play in. Was a godsend last year for temperatures above 25. Less of an issue as they get older and more able to take care of themselves but for 0-5 it is practical. Less hot and sunny days we are usually out and about anyway.

I don’t think it’s a problem. My mum’s garden is north west and gets sun from midday until evening. As someone says, depends on what is in the way of sun reaching your garden.

Mine faces south; the back of the house gets baked by the sun but the rest of the (small, urban) garden gets surprisingly little sun due to high walls and fences and the position of neighbours' houses and trees. So it's not so much to do with the direction, but the entire aspect and surrounds.

There is a nice infographic on west facing gardens that explains how the sun comes over to the garden, also weighing up the pros and cons.

I'm personally still not sure what's best, especially as england is getting hotter. Probably what really matters is when we will all get air con!

No it depends on the length of the garden and where it is but I actually think with little ones it’s an advantage. Provided the garden is long enough that it’s not overshadowed by the house in winter for all of the day (probably over 30ft?) things will grow and you can have a seating area at the end where the sun still reaches. Also you’ll still be able to enjoy it in summer (all of my friends with south facing gardens had to invest in awnings for the summer as it was just too hot) (small gardens/ terraced houses).

Depends on the length of your garden too! I love our North-West facing garden although we have a biggish garden. Plenty of sun in the latter half throughout the day and gorgeous late afternoon/evening sun nearer the house in the evening. Also with kids it great to also have some shade options - NW keeps everyone happy!

I'd buy it - we really wanted a south facing garden so bought a house with south-east facing. It's lovely during the day but the sun disappears by 4.30-5pm and so we can never have those lovely evenings sitting out! Whereas our neighbours across the road with north-west facing do! I suppose with a little one you want the sun during the day but as they get older you'll def appreciate the later afternoon/after-work sun