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A wind break also acts as a privacy screen. (Photo by Pamela Noensie)
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A wind break also acts as a privacy screen. (Photo by Pamela Noensie)
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If the strong winds damage their garden, for example, breaking branches, taking out the moisture from foliage and drying the ground, consider planting a living breakwater.
A living wind is a group of plants placed to filter the wind. The group can be as small as a few shrubs or as large as a group of trees, shrubs and small plants. The benefits may include improving soil quality, conserving water and creating a beneficial protest microclimate for wildlife.
If you want to plant a wind groundbreaking, here are some important things to consider.
Positioning their plants
It is better placed at the correct angles in the prevailing direction of the wind: in our area, this is usually north to northwest. Since it becomes cooler in winter on the north and northwest side of your home, planting in this area could also save some money in the heating.
The objective of a wind is not to block all the wind planting in a dense and linear way. This, in fact, can lead to a fire danger when plants are fully grown. Instead, staggers plants. And, if possible, propose several rows. This will temperate the wind by allowing some air to pass, thus reducing the intensity of the wind along the sides of the group.
Plant space
It is recommended that the wind cuts be considered 30 feet or more of their home or any structure. Calculate the size, how high and how wide these plants will be in maturity and give them a lot of growth space. Take into account other safety rules, such as not planting a small bush directly, under a tree, which could lead to a staircase.
Choose windproof plants
Plants that are multiple with small leaves that can be folded in the wind sacrifice the greatest resistance to wind. Many of our native plants are in this category and many are also drought.
There are several native perennial leaf bushes, for example, which are excellent shoots. Pacific Wax Myrtle (Myrica Californica) is one of my favorites. I have found the bush extremely easy to grow, although I lost a couple of the Goophers. Now, they plant them inside GoPher’s baskets. This native may need more water to settle. It grows to 5 to 30 feet high and is also tolerant.
Another native bush is the cafeteria (Frangula Californica). It grows 5 to 15 feet high with an extension of 10 feet, or you can buy a dwarf size. It attracts a variety of birds with their dark red berries in the winter and is tolerant of deer.
If you have space for Talel’s bushes, Toyon (Arbutifolia heteromeles) is a beautiful perennial leaf with red berries in winter. The Western Redbud (Western Cercis) is another with vivid pink flowers and heartless heart -shaped leaves that are deciduous in winter. Both are resistant to deer once established.
Try to include a variety of plants in your wind. Many beneficial insects need nectar throughout the year, and can help them with plants that bloom at several times of the year: the flowers of California Lilac (Ceanothus) in spring, sage (sage) in summer, California Fuchsa) in Fuchsa. These plants come in a variety of sizes depending on the cultivar.
Winds can be fierce in winter and spring. A living breakwater can tame the wind and at the same time benefit from the ground and our wildlife. Just remember to choose wind -resistant plants, place them at the right angle with the wind and space them wisely for fire safety.
For more information, visit Marinmg.ucanr.edu.
Sponsored by UC Cooperative Extension, the University of California Marin Master Gardeners provides information based on science and research for Marin home gardeners. Email questions to helpesk@marinmg.org. Attach photos for consultations on pests or plant diseases. Call 415-473-4910 to see when a gardener teacher will be in the office or leave 24 hours, 7 days a week in the sample box outside the office. To attend a workshop or gardening to the brochure, a free quarterly letter and new quarterly, go to Marinmg.ucanr.edu.
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