At the moment I am listening to the Bise hit the side of my apartment. This wind is typical in Geneva and sends freezing weather in our direction. I’ve been listening to the blasts for it for the last 12hours or so, and during this time the 150km gusts have sent quite a lot of the plants and rooftop furniture flying.
Our apartment is really exposed, and so we’ve had to make a few adjustments so that wind doesn’t affect the garden too much. But, because of the thermals surrounding buildings as well as the eco-systems that cities create, if you are growing in an urban environment then you’ll probably get some strange weather too…
So how can you protect your garden from wind? Here are some suggestions –
Plant low –
But planting low herbs and vegetables (especially root veggies), you’ll create a space that isn’t damaged by large gusts of wind. Mint, rosemary, and sage all work well, as do potatoes, carrots, and turnips.
Create Zones –
If you have one balcony then you’ll probably not be able to avoid certain gusts of wind, but if you have a couple that face different directions it is worth taking the time to find out where the wind regularly comes from. Once you know that, you can create wind zones with low planting areas, or only plant on the side that has favourable weather.
Create barriers –
An old pallet or some furniture (even a little shed) can help buffer your balcony from the wind. I regularly pick up pallets, hack them up and make them into little trellises or contraptions that support plants or block the weather. The only thing that is super important – make sure they are secure. The wind in Geneva regularly takes our patio set for a walk from one end of the balcony to the other where it is stopped by a brick wall. If you don’t have the secure buffer of a solid wall to stop your furniture or pallets, then make sure you tied down and fasten your barriers securely to something else.
Plant indoors –
If you can’t escape the bad weather, then plant indoors or bring your plants in when the weather really turns. This isn’t practical for everyone, but it can be a great solution for some.
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So over to you. Is the wind a problematic for your planting? How do you get around it, and what tips and hints have I missed out here? Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear from you.
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