Creating Climate Zones in the Garden

Whoever takes over a new garden often faces the situation that the climatic conditions in the new garden are not optimal for the plants they want to grow. Whether it's more or less sun, cold or wind protection, more or less humidity, with the help of some basic knowledge, you can successfully create microclimates in your garden that will help your favorite plants thrive.

"It's important to know which factors determine whether plants thrive or not. There are two factors that determine plant life: first, water and nutrient uptake from the soil, and second, photosynthesis. With the help of photosynthesis, plants generate the energy they need for their metabolic processes and thus their nutrition.

You can improve nutrient uptake from the soil by ensuring the soil is well-loosened, doesn't dry out, and allows rainwater to drain. It's also sensible to regularly enrich the soil with nutrients."

"However, nutrient uptake can only occur if the soil is not frozen. Therefore, for some plants, it's important to protect them, and especially their roots, from frost. For this, you need to know that cold air sinks. A small hill or, even better, a mound bed filled with decaying material and compost, on the leeward side of which the sensitive plants are placed, can significantly improve their chances of survival.

If extreme temperatures are reported, you can additionally "wrap" such plants with brushwood or even foil. A low-voltage string of lights, switched on when needed, can also raise the temperatures for exotic evergreen trees like olives and ficus within the foil package to tolerable levels."

"A windbreak, which protects against excessive evaporation in summer and frostbite in winter, can provide a good basis for life for many plants. To protect an entire garden, however, it should be 4 m high. It's important that such a windbreak should still be wind-permeable to prevent strong, disturbing turbulences. Walls are therefore less suitable than, for example, trees or hedges.

Many plants that cannot tolerate full sun enjoy the proximity to protective trees. You can increase the humidity through a pond, a stream, or even through shade zones.

And a stone wall offers an ideal heat storage on sunny days for drought- and heat-loving plants like Mediterranean herbs, such as thyme, rosemary, and sage."