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A Home With a Sunny South-Facing Garden Might Seem Great — but It Comes With Hidden Risks

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Published July 17 2025, 9:45 a.m. ET

A happy couple standing in front of their new home. (Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images |courtneyk)
Source: Representative Cover Image Source: Getty Images |courtneyk

A happy couple standing in front of their new home.

A house with ample sunlight pouring in feels like a blessing, and what better than a south-facing home? While it can be, most homeowners with south-facing gardens beg to differ. One such homeowner broke down her troublesome experience trying to maintain a house with a south-facing garden for five years and finally decided to move out. Lauren Bradbury of Ideal Home detailed her everyday struggles in her new home, including the small fortune she had to spend on damages to her garden at the center of it. Experts backed her opinions, debunking the perceived advantages of a south-facing garden.

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Source: Representative Image Source: Getty Images |Xuanyu Han

A sunny garden with trees.

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Everyone loves a good morning sunshine, but as the clock strikes past noon and the heat simmers, it’s not for the faint of heart. It’s no surprise that our planet is getting hotter and hotter every year, with heatwaves tormenting even the best places. Considering all that, views on owning a south-facing house ought to change. When the homeowner purchased her first home with a south-facing garden, she quickly got a reality check of all the issues that arose sooner than she expected in her new home. The raging sun falls directly on their garden, killing plants, overheating their home exterior, and there’s no escaping the heat, even if you install shades. @bunnyguinness shared her take on south-facing gardens in a YouTube video. 

The homeowners have tried everything to enjoy their south-facing garden while also spending a little fortune on redecorating their outdoor space. They have, unfortunately, not been able to fully utilize their garden during the summer months. The spring and autumn months are ideal for outdoor dinners and hosting parties when the sun is pleasant, but the peak summer sun keeps the couple away from their garden more than they would like to be. “South-facing gardens are hard to maintain, and none of our plants have survived for anywhere near as long as they should,” she admitted. @Gardenninja explained why knowing the direction of your home garden is important.

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