What makes a microclimate? A microclimate is a small area with different environmental and atmospheric conditions than the surrounding area. It is different from its neighboring zone in temperature, wind exposure, drainage, light exposure, and other factors. These microclimate factors may vary from site to site by just a few minute measurements or by quite a lot.
As a gardener, you need to know your microclimates so you can place plants in the most optimal spots.
What Makes a Microclimate?
Microclimates have become the talk of the town as gardeners
try to manage their landscapes more efficiently and earth friendly. What causes
microclimates? Every piece of land has a dip, large tree, wall, or a hill that
creates a microclimate. These are just objects that change the exposure the site
has or blocks wind, rain, and other elements. Such influences on microclimates
may be manmade or natural.
The southern side of your home radiates more heat than the
north side of the house. This is a microclimate. Such small variations in the
conditions a plant experiences can make a world of difference in how it grows
or produces. It’s not only manmade structures that influence the atmosphere
though.
Natural formations like a rocky outcropping, hill, or
anything that turns winds, creates shade, or harbors water are considered
microclimate factors. Gardeners can use these conditions to their advantage
with careful planting and consideration.
Why Microclimates Matter
The information on a plant’s tag will tell you the USDA
hardiness zone it grows best in. This indicates the average annual minimum
winter temperature so you can tell if a plant will survive your cold season.
This is important information, but what if you have an
exposed location with no trees, constant wind, and on a bit of a hill? It will
get the brunt of the wind with no rest from the cold and still be dry as water
sloughs off the hill. Cold and dry equal dead plants, even if it is hardy to
your zone.
This is why microclimates matter.
Creating Microclimates
If you want to create a shady site in your landscape, plant
a tree or build a fence. In areas with lots of rainfall, take advantage of what
comes with a rain
garden. In arid, sunny regions, use large rocks to make shade. Each
addition to the landscape creates a microclimate.
It is fairly simple to manipulate your garden and change
some of the site conditions, but what is easier is to just use what is there.
Take a walk around on a sunny, windy, or rainy day and see which areas of the
landscape are impacted the most. Then, use this information to your advantage
by placing plants that enjoy those natural weather conditions.
What makes a microclimate? A microclimate is a small area with different environmental and atmospheric conditions than the surrounding area. It is different from its neighboring zone in temperature, wind exposure, drainage, light exposure, and other factors. These microclimate factors may vary from site to site by just a few minute measurements or by quite a lot.
As a gardener, you need to know your microclimates so you can place plants in the most optimal spots.
What Makes a Microclimate?
Microclimates have become the talk of the town as gardeners
try to manage their landscapes more efficiently and earth friendly. What causes
microclimates? Every piece of land has a dip, large tree, wall, or a hill that
creates a microclimate. These are just objects that change the exposure the site
has or blocks wind, rain, and other elements. Such influences on microclimates
may be manmade or natural.
The southern side of your home radiates more heat than the
north side of the house. This is a microclimate. Such small variations in the
conditions a plant experiences can make a world of difference in how it grows
or produces. It’s not only manmade structures that influence the atmosphere
though.
Natural formations like a rocky outcropping, hill, or
anything that turns winds, creates shade, or harbors water are considered
microclimate factors. Gardeners can use these conditions to their advantage
with careful planting and consideration.
Why Microclimates Matter
The information on a plant’s tag will tell you the USDA
hardiness zone it grows best in. This indicates the average annual minimum
winter temperature so you can tell if a plant will survive your cold season.
This is important information, but what if you have an
exposed location with no trees, constant wind, and on a bit of a hill? It will
get the brunt of the wind with no rest from the cold and still be dry as water
sloughs off the hill. Cold and dry equal dead plants, even if it is hardy to
your zone.
This is why microclimates matter.
Creating Microclimates
If you want to create a shady site in your landscape, plant
a tree or build a fence. In areas with lots of rainfall, take advantage of what
comes with a rain
garden. In arid, sunny regions, use large rocks to make shade. Each
addition to the landscape creates a microclimate.
It is fairly simple to manipulate your garden and change
some of the site conditions, but what is easier is to just use what is there.
Take a walk around on a sunny, windy, or rainy day and see which areas of the
landscape are impacted the most. Then, use this information to your advantage
by placing plants that enjoy those natural weather conditions.