Windy garden development.

Hi all, I posted in the past about planting trees in my garden which is very windy, especially this time of year here in N.Wales.
The problem is I am quite passionate about Japanese gardens and have developed a couple in previous gardens. A Japanese style garden seems out of the question in such a windy area when it comes to Acers e.t.c.
What I need to discover is just what type of planting should I be researching for this garden ? Creating physical wind breaks might be possible but we get some pretty massive wind gusts here !
Should I look at books about planting 'dry gardens' as most of the planting appears low to the ground ?
I am just eager to get some ideas sorted by spring so I can get some planting done. I can also get some reading done now during these dark months.

many thanks,

Gazania.

 

Hi

I am in South Wales about a mile from the coast and all my tress sort of lean to the one side away from the Atlantic.

I know we go on about photos etc and were you live but this is important as what you are able to plant.

I would look around localy and see what grows well in your area that you could use as a wind break I lived in Cornwall for two years and its amazing what a high hedge can stop , but its getting it stated is the problem and using platic wind brake can often help , is your garden North ? south ? facing .

Spruce

 

Hi Spruce, well, the bottom of the garden has a view looking towards Snowdon, so that is East. The front of our house looks out over the Irish sea, so that is West. The garden gets the sun most of the day, dipping behind the house towards early evening.
We are very exposed on a rise. You would think the house would block the wind from the west BUT, the wind just swirls around the garden seemingly from above !
We do get quite a bit of rain in these parts too, so not really a 'dry' garden, but then every garden can be dry during a hot summer.
Lot's of books on dry, wet, boggy, shaded, gardens. BUT, nothing regards a windy garden !
We're taking quite a battering at the moment as I write !!

Gazania

 

Hi Gazania,

Is this of any use to you?

British native trees and shrubs for exposed sites

I was thinking of Tamarisks too. (Runs away to look for info.....)

 

Tamarix - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

Hi Ziggy, excellent bit of info and a very good website.

thanks,

Gazania

 

No worries,

I'd have a look along the coast & see what is growing & how its doing, you sound like you are near Harlech, being high up. There are some lovely sand dunes near there, with wet hollows full of stuff like Eringiums.

I used to live in Blaenau Ffesteringhog, nothing grows there, not even grass:(

 

Hi Ziggy, I am inbetween Caernarfon and Porthmadog. I often walk along the beaches here and there are some fantastic eringiums and lots of grasses. Both of which I have in my front garden in my gravel borders. I was looking at Beth Chatto's book on dry gardens today and that's when I thought perhaps such plants found in a dry garden might suit my garden. I have a large grass garden at the moment but I'm hoping to use lots of gravel and perhaps some raised borders.
Gazania

 

Ahh,

I used to stay on a friends farm at Garndolbenmaen, 2 miles walk from the village. Proper isolation. Just a caravan & a ruined farmhouse on 12 acres of sheep infested land.

 

Gazania, a good, hardy, replacement for Acer would be Liquidamber. It is wind tolerant but gives you the same autumn colour as Japanese Maples.

 

Thanks Daitheplant, I've done a couple of searches and this tree looks very interesting. It looks as if it can be trimmed like I do with my potted acers. Interesting leaves and great autumnal colour.

Gazania

 

Saturday evening and winds are gusting over 60mph at the moment according to met office !

Gazania

 

You'll just have to Llŷn into them then.

Sorry, couldn't resist:DOH:

Hope you are ok up there as it do get a bit battered in the wind. I remember it well.

 

Very witty Ziggy
That was certainly a battering. Interesting to see just what plants are coping. Hebes, oriental grasses, leaves are still on the apple tree's. I could certainly do a mix of dry japanese stone gardening and perhaps a little wet/boggy area ? All low lying planting. Acers and such will have to go against the house wall in pots.

Gazania