How to orient a garden bed and measure its direct sunlight

Find north, south, east, and west at the bed

The simplest method is a phone compass. Stand beside the bed, away from a metal fence, trellis, vehicle, or strong magnet that could disturb the reading. Let the compass settle, then identify the edge closest to north. The opposite edge is south. When you face north, east is to your right and west is to your left.

You can also open the property in Google Maps or another satellite map. Reset the map to north-up using its compass control, locate the bed using the house, fence, or path as a reference, and transfer those directions to the bed. Most north-up maps place north at the top, east at the right, south at the bottom, and west at the left.

• Mark the edges temporarily with tape, stakes, or a quick sketch.
• The side where the sun generally rises is roughly east; the sunset side is roughly west. Use this as a cross-check because the exact rising and setting points change through the year.
• In Gardiv maps, north is always shown at the top. Enter the east–west dimension as length and the north–south dimension as width.

Measure direct sunlight reaching the growing area

Gardiv needs the time when unobstructed sun reaches the soil or plant canopy inside the bed. General daylight, a bright overcast sky, or sun lighting a nearby roof does not count as direct sun. A clear, distinct shadow in the bed is a useful sign that direct sun is reaching it.

Choose a mostly sunny, representative day during the growing season. Check the bed every 30 to 60 minutes and record when direct sun begins and ends. If a tree, fence, or building shades it in the middle of the day, record each sunny interval separately and add only those intervals together.

• Observe the actual planting surface, since a wall or tree can shade one bed while another remains sunny.
• Repeat the check after deciduous trees leaf out or when the season changes substantially.
• When conditions vary, use the lower typical total rather than the single sunniest day.

Choose the matching Gardiv sunlight category

Add the periods of direct sun and select the closest category: Shade for under 2 hours, About 2 hours, Part sun for 3–4 hours, 5–6 hours, Full sun for 6 or more hours, or 8+ hours. If your result sits on a boundary or changes with intermittent shade, choose the lower category for a conservative plan.

This observation is a planning estimate, not a permanent site rating. Trees fill out, shadows move with the season, and neighboring structures can change the result, so revise the bed entry when your own observations improve.