Slats... the way to do it
Wind-proofing a garden is vital – but, surprisingly, a solid fence or wall is the very last thing you need
ASOFT breeze is welcome by most people on a baking hot, summer’s day, but it’s unlikely anyone with a garden looks forward to wind speeds picking up over winter. A severe gale, sudden gusty blast or cold, salt-laden winds unleashed by a powerful coastal storm present a challenge to even the most experienced gardener.
Strong winds can damage fences and wooden features, leave compost and soil bone dry, and topple plants in pots like skittles. Its effect on some plants can be devastating, stunting growth, scorching leaves, snapping branches and tearing foliage. Buds can be knocked off before they flower.
Many tall or overly large shrubs are vulnerable to so-called wind rock, where relentless buffeting backwards and forwards leads to a gap opening up around the stem. The movement itself can harm roots and relax the plant’s grip in the ground, and the cavity acts as an entry point for frost.
Obviously, there’s nothing we can do to change the weather, but there are plenty of ways to reduce wind injury. The right kind of barriers will reduce wind speed, while some routine tasks will keep gardens and plants in good shape. Selecting tough specimens for really exposed gardens will give even more peace of mind.
The first line of defence in any garden is the perimeter. Many people assume that surrounding their plot with a solid, tall wall or fence will do the trick, but this can actually make matters worse. Wind flowing over the top will swirl around at the base, causing turbulence on the leeward side.
It’s far better to have a barrier that allows some wind to filter through, reducing its force and slowing it down. A shelter belt of tall, upright trees or shrubs, such as Cupressus macrocarpa, Pinus radiata and field maple, are ideal for large gardens in rural locations, while hedges are a great alternative for smaller plots. Many traditional hedging plants suffer in coastal locations, where they are exposed to powerful, salty winds. Elaeagnus x ebbingei, Tamarix tetrandra and Olearia x haastii are all tough cookies that are up to the job.
My garden is two minutes from the Solent and constantly pounded by the elements. Instead of a hedge, I’ve gone for a fence of horizontal slats with gaps in between. Open panels, trellis and hurdles also take the edge off the flow of air.
Some plants are hopeless in the wind. But there are gardeners who like a challenge, building special structures or taking extreme measures to keep vulnerable plants alive. In my opinion, this is a waste of time. These plants rarely thrive and, besides, there are plenty of plants that are wind-resistant.
T HYME, sea thrift and aubrieta will provide low-level colour, while ornament al bronze sedges (Carex buchananii and C. flagellifera), Stipa tenuissima and stately miscanthus are all suitable grasses for exposed sites.
Hardy geraniums, mountain knapweed ( Centaurea montana), lupins, Erysium ‘Bowle’s Mauve’ and sea hollies, such as Eryngium bourgatii ‘Picos Blue’, will all survive in an exposed border. Mix with shrubs like hebes, brachyglottis, roses and compact hydrangeas, such as Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Rotschwanz’.
One of my favourite shrubs for a harsh spot is Viburnum tinus ‘Gwennllian’, a compact form of the common laurestinus. From late winter to early spring, the branches of this evergreen are splashed with dense clusters of pink buds that open to reveal dazzling white flowers.
Buddleias, roses, lavatera and hydrangeas can all take a bit of a battering, but are more prone to wind rock than others due to their lanky growth. To prevent damage over winter, prune the stems back by about a third in early winter to lighten their load. Newly planted trees, shrubs and perennials are also vulnerable to wind rock. Check susceptible plants regularly and refirm them in the ground if they have been loosened.
Elsewhere, spread a 3in-thick mulch across the ground to prevent moisture loss, and water containers filled with seasonal bedding if the compost feels bone dry.