Growing in Windy Areas

Poppies and Cosmos by Midwest Gardening.jpg

Wind Can Wreak Havoc with our plants

Windy planting sites, strong storms and even high rise balconies exposed to wind can make growing beautiful flowers challenging to say the least. Wind swaying your plants pulls and tugs at the roots and breaks stems.

Persistent winds will pull plants at the roots, disturbing the root system enough to prevent efficient take up of essential moisture. Frequent supplemental watering will be necessary and the growth and development of the plant will likely be affected. Even moderate wind that is constantly changing direction can loosen the root system from the soil. Wind can also be very drying by increasing evaporation, to both the plant foliage and the soil surface. Pathogens can also be carried by the wind and infecting many other plants.

Of course wind isn’t all bad. Wind is great for increasing air circulation around your plants to help fight disease and fungus. And wind is a wonderful aide to pollination. In hot regions the wind, although drying, can also be cooling relief to plants. Moderate winds and breezes can help seedlings to grow strong.

There are strategies we can employ in blustery areas of our landscape.

  • Select wind resistant plants that have flexible stems. The stems will easily bend and sway in the wind without breaking or pulling at the roots.

  • Plants that are well adapted to windy sites have small narrow leaves that are not easily caught by the wind and reduces surface area that is affected by evaporation. Think needled conifers or ornamental grasses.

  • Support plants with cages or stakes

  • If winds are short term or seasonal, protect plants with a screen of any number of different materials or fabrics fixed to stakes. Small plants can be protected short term with a cloche.

  • Create a natural wind barrier with shrubs and trees. Ornamental grasses or naturally wind resistant and can create a small windbreak.

  • Install a wind breaking fence.

  • If wind comes rushing down a hillside, create niches in the hill for planting and support the soil with rock to create a protected space.

  • On a high rise balcony be creative with panels or fabric screens if you have a means of securely anchoring to a rail or wall.

Best Annuals to Withstand Wind

  • California Poppy

  • Cosmos

  • Gazania

  • Lantana (annual in the north)

  • Marigold, shorter varieties that won’t need staking

  • Nasturtium

  • Zinnia, shorter varieties that won’t need staking

Best Perennials to Withstand Wind

  • Allium

  • Coreopsis

  • Daylily

  • Eryngium, Sea Holly

  • Flax

  • Geranium, perennial

  • Lantana (perennial in the south)

  • Rosa Rugosa (shrub rose)

  • Sempervivum, Hen and Chicks

  • Shasta Daisy

Best Shrubs and Trees to Withstand Wind and Create Windbreaks

  • Arborvitae

  • Bamboo

  • Bayberry

  • Birch

  • Boxwood (in the north winter winds can be damaging)

  • Caryopteris

  • Crepe Myrtle

  • Forsythia

  • Lilac

  • Mock Orange

Sharon Dwyer