WINDBREAKS AND SHELTERBELTS

Shelterbelts protect your home from the chilling effect of wind so you may need less energy to heat your home and you’ll be able to grow a greater variety of plants.

As a garden designer pondering the effects of gardening in a changing climate, you may be suprised to learn that I fear wind more than drought. Strong winds are unpredictable and often appear without warning causing real - and often irreversable damage to plants.

You can't keep the wind out of your garden entirely - there is no magic solution - but you can slow it down with windbreaks and shelterbelts as well as trapping warm pockets of air through the introduction of Foundation Planting and Climbers.

If you live in an exposed area, check for the direction of the coldest winds and build your shelter belt across that direction. Don't make the common mistake of installing a solid barrier as these will increase the problem by creating eddies on both sides of the fence or barrier. Instead, choose a structure that is at least 50% wind permeable - such as a trellis, series of hedges or a group of trees underplanted with shrubs - and you will create a very effective windbreak.

Make sure that your windbreak is as wide as possible to prevent the wind simply sneaking around the side and increasing in speed and ferocity.

When planting your shelterbelt, try to choose wind tolerant plants and remember to include a good mix of evergreens in with your deciduous specimens.

Some good wind tolerant plants include:

• Escallonia (Evergreen shrub that also makes a good hedge in full sun)
• Olearia (Evergreen shrub with daisy like flowers - also makes a good hedge)
• Tamarisk (deciduous but can withstand strong winds)
• Beech (retains its dead leaves through winter so acts in the same way as an evergreen)
• Prunus serotina (decidous tree - try planting as a multistem)

I would recommend planting small so that the root systems can develop to cope with heavy top growth without staking and to protect your new shelterbelt as it establishes by surrounding it with a temporary mesh or trellis windbreak.

Another good tip is to plant multistem specimens rather than standards as these help filter the wind in the same way as a trellis (if on a smaller scale!)

Close to the house, low planting such as lavender, santolina, box or even low hurdle fencing will have a suprisingly important effect despite its diminutive stature.

As your shelterbelt matures, it will help to:

• Absorb noise
• Protect plants from frost
• Prevent Soil Erosion
• Stop Snow drifts
• Reduce energy costs

You will wonder what you ever did without it!

A shelterbelt can take a number of years to mature - so don't wait until the winds become even more problematic - start taking action today...

HOW YOUR GARDEN CAN HELP YOU CUT DOWN ON HEATING BILLS!

Plants can play a useful insulating effect - conserving heat in the winter. Not only will you save money on your heatings bills but you will also be able to sleep more soundly, safe in the knowledge that you are doing your bit for the environment!

Climbing plants can act as an extra layer of insulation to a building as they trap a thin film of air between the plant and the house.

An even better solution is the implementation of a Living Wall. These are held away from a building by a support system of wires. Not only does this increase the pocket of air (and hence the insulating effect) but it also prevents potential damage to the fabric of the building that can be caused by some clinging plants such as Ivy

Close to the base of the house, Foundation Planting traps warm pockets of dead air between the house and the planting. Where the shrubs are mature, there should ideally be a 30cm gap between the plants and the building.

Green Roofs also play a useful role in the insulating a building. We all know that you can loose up to 75% of your body heat through your head but have you ever thought how much heat is lost through the roof? Although it is now common practice to insulate the loft few people think about the insulating benefits of a Green Roof.

Shelter Belts are another key insulating tool. In small gardens you may have to make do with large shrubs and small trees but where more space is available you can really go to town.