Along with open-plan living spaces, multiple bathrooms and plenty of storage, south-facing gardens are often among the most coveted features for home buyers – but what are the benefits of a south-facing garden, and are they worth it?

We explain the key advantages of south-facing gardens, how to tell which aspect a garden faces, and even how your home value with a south-facing garden could be higher than you think.

The advantages of a south-facing garden

Having a south-facing garden benefits you if you like to spend lots of time outside, and if you’re a keen gardener (or hope to become one). The advantages of a south-facing garden include:

• You’ll enjoy more sunshine throughout the day
• Your plants will grow better
• Your interior could be warmer
• Your home value could be higher

What is a south-facing garden?

A south-facing garden is one that points to the south aspect and therefore enjoys the most direct sunshine and warmth throughout the day.

You can use a compass (or a compass app on your phone) to work out the orientation of a garden. If you can’t physically visit the home you want to buy, you can also use online maps to identify the direction that its garden faces. Even if the garden points south-west or south-east rather than ‘true south’, you can still enjoy the benefits of a south-facing garden.

This isn’t to say that other garden directions don’t receive any sunshine of course; east-facing gardens get the sun in the morning, while west-facing gardens will have it in the afternoon and evening. North-facing gardens tend to be mostly shady but will enjoy evening sun from May to October.

Why south-facing gardens are highly sought-after

Maximum sunlight exposure through the day

In the Northern Hemisphere, south-facing gardens do get more sun over the course of the day, as the sun rises from the east, travels over the southern part of the sky and sets in the west, meaning that it will slowly pass over your outdoor space from left to right. A south-facing garden in the UK can get up to 16 uninterrupted hours of sunshine in the middle of summer – how delightful!

From your very own garden you could watch the sunrise, bask in the warm midday sun, dine alfresco during golden hour and sip drinks with a view of the sunset; if this sounds like the way you’d love to live, searching for a home with a south-facing garden is an absolute must.

Better energy efficiency and cost savings

The rooms on the south-facing side of your home will have sunlight streaming in through their windows for most of the day, which will make their interiors naturally warmer, and potentially bring down your energy bills and increase your home’s energy efficiency over the summer months as you won’t need to rely on artificial heating in those rooms to achieve a comfortable living temperature.

You can maximise the benefits of natural heating by opening your windows and doors to allow warm, fresh air to circulate; many Bellway house styles feature open-plan kitchen, dining and living spaces with French doors that open onto the garden, so you can extend your home outdoors and enjoy the view while sunshine and warmth flows in.

Then there are the additional cost-saving benefits you might not think of, like being able to dry your laundry outdoors in full sunshine, so you can give your tumble dryer a rest until the colder months arrive again.

Ideal for outdoor living and entertainment

A sun-soaked garden creates an inviting space for outdoor living, whether you want to sunbathe with a good book, let the kids splash in the paddling pool to their heart’s content, or invite friends round for Sunday afternoon barbecues that linger on into the evening.

Knowing that your garden will enjoy the sunshine all day presents so many opportunities, and a world of potential for designing your ideal outdoor area around your lifestyle, rather than around which corners of your garden receive the sun.

Gardening and plant growth

If you dream of a lush green lawn, flowerbeds filled with colourful blossoms or planters bursting with fragrant herbs and healthy vegetables, a south-facing garden is all but essential. Having sunshine throughout the day helps your garden to grow to its fullest potential, provided you keep on top of watering to ensure that the soil doesn’t dry out.

A sunny outdoor space creates the ideal conditions for creating a biodiverse garden too, whether you plan to add a few flowerpots with native British bee-friendly plants, or a mini wildflower meadow to attract pollinators and provide food and shelter for many other species.

Property value and buyer demand

For the reasons listed above, homes with south-facing gardens are highly desirable to buyers: OnTheMarket reports that 71% of buyers are more likely to buy a property with a south-facing garden, and 42% would be prepared to pay more for a home with this feature, with up to 1 in 5 buyers (20%) claiming they would splurge at least £16,000 extra to secure it.

This is great news for anyone selling a home with a sun-soaked garden, but if you’re looking to buy one, you could face more competition. A fantastic benefit of buying a new-build home is that you can choose a property and plot that ticks all of your boxes, and your Bellway sales advisor can assist you in selecting a home with a south-facing garden aspect that will enjoy the sunshine all day.

Potential downsides of a south-facing garden

• It may need more watering: Having sunshine on your garden throughout the day can dry out the soil quickly, requiring increased watering to keep your grass and plants hydrated. To avoid relying too much on your hosepipe and keep your water usage low, install a water butt off your downpipe to collect rainwater, or use grey water – such as bathwater, or from the sink after washing dishes – to water your outdoor plants as they’re typically hardy enough to tolerate it.
• The heat can be intense: Your garden being in full sunshine all day can make it very hot, so you’ll need to ensure you have a shady spot that you can retreat to, especially if your household includes children and/or pets; whether you opt for a parasol, sail, canopy or even a garden room, the important thing is that your south-facing garden has a cool area for when temperatures soar.
• Not all plants love sunshine: While plants like tomatoes, peppers and squash love to bask in the sun’s rays, other plants such as lettuce, kale, and delicate herbs prefer to grow in the shade, while some like a bit of both.
• Your furniture can fade: Garden furniture and outdoor cushions or throws can become faded and damaged if exposed to direct sunlight for long periods of time, so make sure they’re covered up or put away when not in use to prevent ‘bleaching’ and extend their lifespan.
• Beware of obstructions: When searching for a house with a south-facing garden, also check whether the outdoor space is overlooked by other properties or buildings, or other obstructions such as trees that may block sunshine in the areas that you want it.

Is a south-facing garden worth it?

If spending as much time as possible outdoors in the warm sunshine, growing a thriving garden, and having a home that could be warmer or more valuable all sounds appealing to you, then buying a property with a south-facing garden is absolutely worth your time and investment.

On the other hand, if you prioritise other home features such as an ample kitchen, a utility room, space for working from home or additional bedrooms for children, then a garden with a south aspect may not be as important to you, and this could provide you with a wider choice of properties in your search.

Find a new-build home with a south-facing garden

Finding a second-hand home with a south-facing garden and all the interior features that you want could be tricky; when you choose a new-build home, you don’t need to compromise. Across Bellway’s developments of brand-new homes you can find an exceptional choice of house styles with the most sought-after interior features, and many with south-facing gardens so you can tick every box on your property ‘must-haves’ checklist.

What’s more, Bellway’s energy-efficient homes are designed to keep your energy bills as low as possible, while you enjoy a cosy home all year-round. You’ll also have a perfect blank canvas inside and outside, so you can create your dream home interior and the garden you’ve always wanted.

Start your search for your ideal Bellway new-build home today and discover the many great reasons to buy new, plus schemes and incentives available to make your new home even more affordable. For garden design inspiration from real Bellway homeowners, read about how Beth and Ollie built a home working studio in their garden, and how Sarah and Jonathan took outdoor living to the next level after creating a garden kitchen.