Warm Climate Gardens - Part 2
Increasingly, we are all bothered by winds, how you decide to handle your winds, will of course influence the style of garden you manifest.
Once, with more land than I have now, I opted for an interventionist approach. Man made structures are both cheap and accessible in the market place, for we the average gardener.
I personally now prefer to use trees and shrubs to break up the winds as they are both more aesthetic in the long term and are cheaper to boot. Should an act of nature destroy your windbreak, it will generally be easier and cheaper to replace it too.
As we are at the planning stage still really, we have to decide what will be the main plantings once the back bone of trees are in.
For me they are bulbs and corms interspersed with alpines. For you the combination will be different.
At this stage it pays to look at the mundane tasks one tends to take for granted, like, the work areas where your rubbish bins and compost will be housed.
Make sure these areas are large enough when drawing up your design for the garden. Take into consideration also resting places for chairs and or benches to sit; both for summer and winter.
A well thought out resting place to drink in the joys of your garden in both climates is often overlooked. If in doubt, get out your compass and work out where the sun will be during summer and winter.
Remember, the further South or North you are depending on which Hemisphere you are reading this in, winter sun shadow will be greater.
When it comes to planting trees, you will need both evergreen trees to help sheild your garden from the heat and deciduous trees to allow in light during the gloomy days of winter when we all want as much sun streaming in as possible.
Your plantings will vary depending on location. Walk round your neighbourhood to see which specimens thrive in your area, but do not limit yourself to what you see. Talk to your local nursery and ask if the trees you imagine you would prefer to grow will grow with you.
Guess that's about all for this read, rest your eyes, make yourself a hot cup of cocoa and walk round your property visualising what it is your dreams and aspirations wish to manifest. Step out into your gardens as plans both on paper and in the mind's eye are often re-adjusted as the space
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