Creating Microclimates to Facilitate Growth
Many gardeners live in areas where almost anything can grow effortlessly.
Just plant the seeds and water it for a few weeks, and you’ve got a beautifully
lush plant. But if you live in somewhere like Colorado, you’ll understand what
its like to have a slim selection of plants that naturally grow. It can be quite
a challenge to facilitate the growth of a large variety of plants, especially
when the very world you live in seems to be rooting against you.
Some people solve this problem by loading up their plants with every type of
chemical and fertilizer known to man. This usually works, but to me it seems
kind of unnatural to rely on man made materials to keep your plants alive. Also,
if I’m growing fruits or vegetables, I don’t feel very comfortable eating
something that is entirely composed of chemicals.
A gardening theory that I have relied on in the past to grow many types of
plants is that of creating a “microclimate” for each type of plant. This is when
you regulate the sunlight, shade, moisture, and wind factors for each separate
plant. It sounds like a challenge, and it is. But you can regulate these factors
in such a way that the plant feels just like it is in the ideal growing
conditions. This can be achieved by the use of wind barriers, shading umbrellas,
extra water, or different types or amounts of compost.
If you’re ready to make an attempt at creating microclimates, you’ll need to
make a detailed plan in advanced. You should start by finding a large shade
providing bush or tree that will grow fast and naturally in your area. Just look
at some undeveloped plots of land and see what is there. Most likely it grew on
its own without any planting or care. This is what you want to happen. Usually
the growing of one plant can bring about the growing of another more desirable
plant.
If you have a fence in your backyard (you would be surprised at how many people
don’t) then you already have a good amount of shade to work with. You can start
the microclimate process using just the shade of the fence, combined with
(perhaps) a screen or large bush to shade your new plant for the other half of
the day that the fence doesn’t take care of. The fence is also useful for
shading against wind for very fragile plants.
Once you have established the shade, be it natural or unnatural, you have
created a slightly less harsh miniature environment. You must remember this is a
gradual process, and find a new plant to put in the shade of the other one. Now
your choices are a little more open. You don’t have to go with a rugged plant
like the one you did before; you can now choose a plant that survives in cooler
weather.
If the plant you are trying to grow next requires more moisture in the air than
your area provides, installing a fountain or small pond can fix this problem due
to the evaporation. You may think you don’t want to waste water on a pond or
fountain, but it’s all going toward the betterment of your garden. It’s just
like the watering process, only indirect. As an added benefit, usually fountains
are quite aesthetically attractive and a great addition to your garden.
I can’t explain every stage of the process, because everyone’s goals and setups
are slightly different. But to reach your goal, you should do research on every
plant that you would like to have in your garden. Find out everything you can
about the zone that it flourishes in, and ask yourself how you can emulate that
zone within your own backyard. Almost always you can take control of the
environment and recreate whatever you wish. Usually all it takes is some
planning and strategy.
