Are You a Microclimate Gardener?
Think microclimate gardening is a potential hassle? Not so.
Actually, you may already have a robust strategy in place…
in your lawn. Lawn seed blends offer a variety of cultivars of
a particular grass, or a selection of complementary grasses.
They’re designed to thrive in different growing environ-
ments, like a shady location under a tree, the dry spot by a
mailbox, or the high-traffic area in a tree lawn or along a
driveway. These various grasses work together to provide
uninterrupted coverage, even in challenging circumstances:
where one grass dwindles, another flourishes. This is an
example of savvy plant selection based on the anticipated
microclimates in a particular landscape.
Tools and Tips
Although microclimates have an influence on your
garden throughout the year, spring and summer are the
prime growing seasons. This makes the microclimate
characteristics impacting them a huge factor in the health
and productivity of your garden as a whole. Now that you
know a little about how microclimates can work for you,
let’s take a look at some useful diagnostic tools.
The 21st century is a great time to be a gardener if you
like widgets and thingamabobs that make information
gathering easier. The old ways are just as effective, though.
Using wind socks and testing the soil’s composition by
taking a little nibble will still do the job. If you’re in too
much of a hurry to spend an afternoon watching the grass
grow, or just love gadgets, here are some suggestions:
“
While you’re in the thick of performing
gardening chores this season,
start noting how
microclimates work
in your landscape.”
• Moisture meters — These instant-read probes check
soil moisture and often include a pH analysis.
• Sun meters — Sun meters are particularly useful in
determining whether a northern exposure, or typically
shady spot, is getting enough light to sustain plants.
Some are instant-read, while others take up to 24 hours
to process and summarize their readings. Included
in this group are photosynthetically active radiation
(PAR) light level meters designed specifically to
measure PAR in the 400-700nm color range which is
essential for plant photosynthesis.
• Sun Seeker/Identifier Apps — A sun identification
app will give you a 3D view of the sun’s solar path
across your property, together with data-like rise and
set times and solar direction for each daylight hour.
It can be a good planning tool, especially if you’re
installing a new garden or reworking one after a
major renovation.
• Wind Speed Gauges — If you think the breeze
whistling through your side yard is moving at a pretty
fast clip, maybe fast enough to dry out your prized
roses, you can find out for sure using a handheld wind
gauge that will also give you wind temperature and
direction. Wait a few months, and the right unit will
provide you with wind chill readings, too.
• Weather stations — Where the tools above gather
specific but limited information, weather stations are
designed to consolidate a number of weather related
readings into one device. They’re as close as you’re
going to get to a weatherman reporting from your
backyard. A weather station is more expensive than a
one-trick tool, but it’s also more convenient to use. Here’s
why: a basic wired unit will often include information
about precipitation, humidity, wind speed and direction,
and ambient air temperature. High-end options can do
all that plus deliver the information through a wireless
network, or Bluetooth connectivity, to an indoor weather
monitor. That way, you can view the data from the
comfort of your couch, or in some instances, from a
remote device like a tablet or smartphone.
If you’ve ever seen a tiny whirlwind of dead leaves
spring up in a doorway, or scour a gutter of dirt and grit,
you know the vagaries of weather can be small, but
surprisingly powerful, and efficient. Understanding how
they work in your landscape can help you make the most
of your gardening story by developing a plot that’s worthy
of your time and effort.
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Maximum Yield