For landscape plants, why is sunlight crucial?

Sunlight is crucial for landscape plants primarily because it is essential for photosynthesis. During this process, plants capture sunlight and use its energy to convert carbon dioxide from the air and water from the soil into glucose and oxygen. The glucose produced is not only vital for the plant's growth and development but also serves as an energy source for various metabolic processes. Without sufficient sunlight, plants cannot produce the food they need to grow and thrive, which can lead to stunted growth and inability to develop properly.

While the retention of water is important for plant health, it does not directly relate to the primary role of sunlight. Similarly, although plants do absorb nutrients from the soil, sunlight plays no role in nutrient provision but rather in their synthesis of energy. Lastly, while adequate sunlight can help in maintaining a healthy plant structure that competes well with weeds, its main function is not to prevent weed growth but to enable photosynthesis, which is vital for the plant’s survival.