Creating a microclimate for Redwoods?
greenthumbzdude
11 years ago
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gardener365
11 years agofamartin
11 years agoRelated Discussions
Forcing Microclimates?
Comments (7)Microclimates are small areas that because of a variety of potential influences, differ from the mean climate of a surrounding area. An open courtyard with black stone on the ground & white walls to reflect light might provide a wind-free microclimate that could be a full zone or zone.5 warmer than the surrounding area. That eastern exposure with a window air conditioner that drips water all summer long might provide a perfect microclimate for the alocasia that the surrounding garden is too dry for. The grade level planter whose back wall is the house's foundation wall might also be able to supply warmth in the root zone needed to sustain a zone 5 or 6 plant in zone 4. In certain types of soil that drain poorly (clay, silty clay), you might create a microclimate that is NOT beneficial to a large % of the plants you might like to grow. When you dig a hole and partially fill it with gravel, the air spaces between the gravel particles can quickly fill with water when it rains or you irrigate, which can kill, damage, or set plants back if the surrounding soil drains too poorly. The basement area where I grow under lights & keep the humidity N of 50% is a microclimate, though we usually think of microclimates in terms of the outdoors. Sometimes we take an active part in arranging conditions in order to trump Mother Nature's plan, and at other times, we simply take notice of the variation in how Mother Nature has ordered conditions so as to create her own microclimate, and take advantage of her whimsy. Al...See MoreWhat kind of microclimate will a fence on north lot line create?
Comments (10)This could be good news. The latin name for the paperbark maple is acer griseum. It is similar to acer triflorum. I bought them at a reputable nursery, so I thought I was all right. But when I checked with the agricultural extension, she said they were just marginal. When I put my zip code into zone finders, it always comes up 5b. But some local authorities like to err on the side of caution and only recommend varieties hardy to zone 4. So maybe that was why she was a little pessimistic. I live in Madison Wisconsin with Lake Monona about a mile to the east and Lake Wingra about a mile to the west. I don't know if that is close enough to get a lake effect. There was a tag on the Witch Hazel that said there would be twig dieback at minus twenty. I am not sure if that means minus twenty with the wind chill or without. Windchills have been getting close to that this week. The paperbark and Harry Lauder are supposed to be slow growing, so it will be some time before they would top the fence. I do wonder if the winter sun could be too much as I hear some evergreens burn up in front of a fence in the winter time. Thanks for the info!...See MoreCreating a warm microclimate for melons
Comments (1)Oops, wrong forum, sorry....See MoreCreating Micro-climate
Comments (5)The misters sound like a great idea IF you live in a low humidity area. I've considered doing the same here in California where summer afternoon humidity is rarely above 30%. My past year in the conifer garden has been to simply see what survives in our dry heat, paying close attention to where the plant is located. Except for all but the toughest, afternoon shade is a must; the best are growing under deciduous trees on the north-east side. Dax's idea of planting under shapely shade structures would work too, but you'd still have to be careful with placement under them...at least here I would! Barbara...See Morefamartin
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