From Sarah’s garden to yours
A keen gardener will often be seen outside in all weathers with a good raincoat and sturdy boots in the winter or a sunhat and thick layer of sunscreen in the summer. Tending to the needs of the garden is the greatest concern.
For most gardeners it’s a fair-weather activity, only tending gardens in ideal weather. However, balmy blue-sky days only make up a portion of our climate and a wide range of environmental conditions present themselves throughout the seasons, some more desirable than others.
Weather plays an integral role in gardening, not just for the comfort of the gardener, but for the needs of the plants. It makes sense to know what is going on around you. The term ‘keep a close eye on the weather forecast’ is often bandied about, especially in spring and autumn when looking out for that first or last frost that can bring the season to an abrupt end and in the case of spring, before it has even started.
A local meteorology page can provide a wealth of information. Some easily gleaned at a glance. The seven-day forecast gives seven images to depict the expected daily weather and like a slot machine, seven sunshine’s in a row it can feel like a jackpot, unless it hasn’t rained in weeks. Then the black dripping cloud icon is something to get excited about. Generally, this is enough basic information to plan your gardening schedule. But understanding the weather forecast and how it impacts the garden can help you garden more effectively.
Temperature
Usually represented as a predicted High (in the hottest part of the day, usually in the afternoon) and Low ( the coldest time usually around dawn). A forecast is determined by meteorological experts for the most likely outcome. However, this may not be what happens in your garden. You may have a microclimate that accentuates temperatures with a brick wall reflecting heat or a frost pocket in a shady corner. Use this as a guide but take temperatures in your own garden and become familiar with the difference between what you experience and the forecast.
Knowing the expected temperature is important for the gardener, not just to see if it will be a good gardening day, but temperature is an important part of a plant’s life. Seeds germinate between ideal temperatures, flowers and fruit can also be triggered by temperatures. If it gets too hot, plants can stall growth and fruit ripening can temporarily stop. Too hot can also play havoc with the ground water availability and increased evaporation and cause plants to wilt. Avoid planting on a hot sunny day. Overcast or late afternoon is always better to reduce transplant shock and prevent drying out. Too cold with an imminent frost is always good to know in advance so plants can be protected with frost cloth.
To install a thermometer in your garden:
- Put in the shade. Direct sun can elevate temperatures beyond the conditions.
- Position between 1 – 2m tall for a representational environmental sampling.
- Avoid nearby heat sources like dryer vents or dark walls to avoid skewing the readings.
Minimum Maximum Thermometers will give High and Low readings and can be reset, daily, weekly or even monthly, or whenever you want. Record the information in a logbook or just look to see, for interest. There are many options including old school glass thermometers and digital versions.
Precipitation
This is anything water based that falls from the sky – rain, hail, sleet and snow. For a garden, rain is important as water is the source of life in the garden. Plants use soil water as a transportation method to draw nutrients into its root cells and once in the plant, it plays an important role in keeping the plant healthy. Inversely, too much water can be a problem, leading to fungal diseases. Flooding can result in root rot. If you don’t get a lot of rain you can struggle to keep moist loving plants alive and well.
In the forecast, expected rain is often represented with different icons:
Few Showers - a sun, a cloud with rain. The day could be both sunny with occasional showers.
Showers – a grey cloud with rain. More frequent, longer lasting showers, more often than not on a gloomy cloudy day.
Rain – dark grey cloud with rain. This is for that steady rain – with big raindrops of at least 0.5mm in size. This can be good rain for the garden giving thirst quenching hydration to parched soil. However, there is always a chance for too much of a good thing.
Most forecasts have an hourly breakdown, to predict how much rain to expect, but it’s not a guarantee you’ll get it. A rain radar found on a weather website is a great way to track incoming rain in real time for an idea of how much to expect, or if it is likely to miss you.
Hail is the hardest precipitation event, as it will brutally punch holes in leaves and tear plants apart and it is often unexpected and there is no way to protect the entire garden.
Wind
Wind can wreak havoc in the garden. It’s good to know where it comes from and how strong it gets. The forecast reports the expected average wind speed over a set period of time and is generally quite steady. Gusts on the other hand are sudden strong bursts that can do the most damage.
Become familiar with your wind, where it comes from and how strong it can get. In a coastal area, on shore winds can be laden with salt which adds to the destruction. The best advice for providing protection is put up a windbreak before planting the garden. Twice the height of the windbreak x5 will give you the distance the windbreak will protect the garden. Plants in a particularly windy spot can be protected individually. Stake newly planted trees to prevent the wind rocking the roots, preventing them from establishing. A drying wind can evaporate moisture from the soil and dry out container plants in an afternoon.
Not all wind is bad, gentle air movement can encourage plants to have strong stems, reduce the risk of fungal diseases and reduce the temperatures on hot days. Wind speed is measured using an anemometer and there are options available for home gardeners.
Once you understand the weather in your garden, you can make wise decisions about which plants will be best suited to your garden.
