This bed runs north-south and gets full sun until mid-afternoon when the house shades most of it. The soil is loamy and I mulch with shredded leaves in the fall and often a compost blend in the early spring. My herb garden is behind the fence and I do water the herbs fairly often, so this border also gets supplemental water during the growing season. If I remember to fertilize I use an organic mix when the plants are first emerging, and/or after their bloom is over.