When windy weather is predicted, it is imperative to learn how to prevent harm to plants from wind. Strong winds have the potential to break stems and knock off leaves and buds, damaging plants. Additionally, wind causes plants to dry up more quickly, which stresses them even more.
You must learn how to shield plants from wind damage if your garden is situated in an exposed area, like on a hill or near the sea. However, in exceptionally windy weather, your plants could still sustain harm from the wind even though your garden is somewhat shielded. Strong winds have the potential to uproot trees, injure young seedlings, and topple taller bedding plants.
Certain plants are resilient and unaffected by wind harm. However, whether they are planted in the ground or in pots, many plants will not withstand strong winds effectively. Just as vital as shielding plants from winter frost and controlling common pests all year is being ready and offering protection before this occurs.
Remember that every garden is unique in terms of the direction of the wind. Determine which direction the wind usually comes from in your garden. Seasons also affect the strength and direction of the wind. To learn more about the “prevailing winds” in your location, conduct an internet search.
6 Ways to Prevent Wind Damage to Plants
These easy precautions are essential for protecting your plants from wind damage and are also essential for protecting them from winter damage.
1. A garden cloche for seedlings
A cloche plant cover for seedlings is probably the best and most environmentally friendly way to stop wind, weathet, snails, and slugs from damaging seedlings. Just place the garden cloche over the young seedling plant, and it will be protected from wind and other forces of nature, including frost, rain, and insects.
For peace of mind, it’s wise to safeguard small, vulnerable plants if windy weather is predicted because winds have the potential to cause havoc. Attempt to make do with a homemade cloche. For a quick and simple on-the-spot solution, simply cut several large plastic bottles in half and invert the top halves over your plants. Make sure you plant them firmly to prevent them from being carried away once the wind picks up.
In your kitchen garden, take similar precautions to safeguard delicate young winter or spring vegetable crops. To lessen the effects of wind, if your vegetable garden is vast, you might want to think about using net cloches or polytunnels. Alternatively cover the entire surface with burlap or gardening fabric. Use bricks to weigh down the edges or stakes to keep them in place. For further protection, you might need to use a frost cloth over plants if the weather is really windy and frigid.
2. A Windbreak plant
Adding a hedge to your yard is a longer-term job rather than a quick repair because a hedge is also known as a live windbreak. The most beautiful and durable alternative, if your garden is highly exposed and you have a habit of losing plants, are living windbreaks made of quickly developing trees and hedging plants.
Semi-permeable barriers called windbreaks slow down wind and give plants cover. Select appropriate plants and trees, then plant them reasonably close to one another. Fall, winter, or early spring are the ideal seasons to plant a living screen.
The effectiveness of the windbreak increases with the size of the planting area—especially if you use a combination of trees and shrubs. The optimal combination is one that is strategically spaced apart to slow the wind while yet letting it pass through.
Select trees that are appropriate for exposed coastal areas, such as Italian alder, common alder, hornbeam, white willow, and mountain ash, if you live near the sea. Hawthorn and sea buckthorn are two of the greatest coastal shrubs for giving a windbreak to beach gardens.
3. Build an artificial windbreak
You also have the option of installing an artificial screen because windbreaks must function by slowing down the wind to lessen its strength in order to be successful. Since they provide instant protection, this is a great concept.
The finest ones are constructed from materials like woven hazel or willow hurdles, which let air pass through while lessening the power of the wind. Woven hurdles are an excellent alternative to solid garden barriers for reducing wind speed during strong gusts.
While the plants establish themselves, artificial garden screening can be used as a stand-alone or in conjunction with live windbreaks to offer protection. To avoid wind blowing around the margins and damaging plants you thought were safe, windbreaks should be slightly broader than the area in need of protection. Measure carefully rather than relying solely on guessing.
4. Think before you plant
Examine your garden again and note which parts are most exposed to any dominant breezes. High-wind gardening can be challenging, so choose plants that do well in windy conditions and use caution when deciding where to plant them.
For example, plants at the top or bottom of a sloping garden will be more exposed than those in the middle. In the northern hemisphere, keep in mind that plants placed against sheds and other garden buildings, as well as those on the south side of your home on a protected patio or deck, will naturally receive protection from north winds.
Selecting plants that are robust enough to survive the winter conditions they will be living in is the best method to prevent wind damage. If you must have that Southern Magnolia, locate it in your landscape where it can be shielded from bitterly cold north winds.
For windy gardens, ornamental grasses and low-growing ground cover plants are excellent options because they can withstand wind better than other plant species.
5. Give tall plants some additional support
If strong winds are predicted, look around your yard to identify any possible issues that should be taken care of in advance.
Put stakes or poles deeply into the ground and tie plants firmly to them to give tall plants support and prevent them from breaking. The strongest options are typically wigwam designs.
Ensure that plants growing over obelisks and other climbing support concepts are tied in and securely fastened. Verify the stability of the trellises and the tightness of the climbing plants’ ties.
If you think it’s essential, relocate pots, planters, and other container gardening ideas with displays of tall plants to a protected area and add more canes to support them.
6. Check on your plants before high winds arrive
Look around your yard and keep an eye out for any branches or stems that appear weak and could break off in strong winds. In case they are felled by wind, overhanging branches that could harm plants growing underneath or sheds and cabins should be pruned back.
To give top-heavy plants additional stability, trim them back. Roses should be pruned in the fall to about a third of their original height in order to shield them from winter winds.
It’s essential checking to make sure shrubs are firmly rooted in the ground since some shrubs can also suffer from “wind rock,” a condition where the wind loosens roots and, in the worst case scenario, upends the plant from the ground.
