Finding and creating microclimates in your yard.

[Paradise Found]

Hey everyone, has anyone looked at all the gardening microclimate books out there?

Here are just a few I found....

Creating Microclimates for HIgh Desert gardening

Design with Microclimate: the outdoor secret to comfortable outdoor space.

Plants and Microclimates

Permaculture and Ideal Microclimate: How to find a warm Microclimate location and improve it additionally.  This one is for people that live on a hill. 

I find my microclimates by walking around the yard on a cold day and I can feel the difference with my hat off. LOL. It really helps if you have a shaved head, or Buzz cut. 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Paradise Found

[teddytn]

@Paradise Found I haven’t read any of those books, but using microclimates in the garden might be the most important thing for me. Anything other than needle palm and Sabal minor and I’m testing my luck planted out in the open. When I’m trying to figure out where to put a new plant I always look around the yard and think where would a dog sleep if it had to spend the night out in the yard? Somewhere against some kind of structure, preferably with some overhead cover. Against the foundation is best of course, gonna run out spots sooner of later though lol. 

[Paradise Found]

Teddy I agree using what you have and making it better is the most important thing we can do to help our more tender palms to survive. 

I found my first microclimate when I would come home at 2 am and the front yard had frost and I could hear it on my feet going crunch crunch, lol. But when I would walk on the east side of the house the lawn was wet as could be.  That is were my B x Q palm is and its only had superficial damage once in the last ten years.  2010 was the last time the temps when into 8a at 12F.  I've also learn not to put palms or agaves underneath some trees like evergreen because the needles just get all clog up inside the palm crown.  But boy they sure are good for other plant keeping them drier and warmer.  So far this fall/winter my low has been 33F.

I am going to get the last book since I live on a hill and have good air drainage.  And its only $11 at Amazon. lol.

Edited December 13, 2021 by Paradise Found

[Las Palmas Norte]

I look at locations where frost disappears first, and conversely where heat is greatest in summer. I figured that out without a book. Those microclimates tend to get used up pretty fast.

[Paradise Found]

17 minutes ago, Las Palmas Norte said:

I look at locations where frost disappears first, and conversely where heat is greatest in summer. I figured that out without a book. Those microclimates tend to get used up pretty fast.

Barrie I think lots of people feel that way too.  You and I are long time gardeners and we know and can feel what is microclimate and what might pool in the cold spot.  Like you said, what unthaw first is a good sign, and that a good example.  A lot of it is just common sense.  I've come up with a few tricks on my own which are nothing new to us. 

I think these book would really help people that are just starting out in their landscaping. 

Cheers! 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Paradise Found

[Trustandi]

I read the permaculture & ideal microclimate on my kindle. It is a good read. 

Have you read the "design with microclimate"? 

[DAVEinMB]

Canopy and wind break, canopy and wind break, canopy and wind break 

And of course, being up against a structure also helps a good bit. The east / southeastern side of my house has good pine tree canopy and a good bit of wind protection. Perennials stay green much longer in that area than other places around the yard

[Paradise Found]

29 minutes ago, Trustandi said:

I read the permaculture & ideal microclimate on my kindle. It is a good read. 

Have you read the "design with microclimate"? 

No I haven't read any of these books.  That does sound like a good one, the Design & Microclimates. I now create understory microclimates just by looking at my plants in winter and using tender plants and see how they do in a particular spot. 

 

18 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

Canopy and wind break, canopy and wind break, canopy and wind break 

And of course, being up against a structure also helps a good bit. The east / southeastern side of my house has good pine tree canopy and a good bit of wind protection. Perennials stay green much longer in that area than other places around the yard

Thats like my garden. House faces south and they are close together so I have wind tunnels I had to tame with trachy's,  bamboo & evergreens.  And I used tall evergreens to block cold northern winds. 

Edited December 13, 2021 by Paradise Found

[BeyondTheGarden]

I got a 5-sensor,  wireless temp/humidity monitor for this purpose.  Not only do I get to monitor multiple locations and record historic data, but I also don't have to walk outside to check the thermometer anymore!

[D. Morrowii]

34 minutes ago, Jesse PNW said:

I got a 5-sensor,  wireless temp/humidity monitor for this purpose.  Not only do I get to monitor multiple locations and record historic data, but I also don't have to walk outside to check the thermometer anymore!

I got an Ambient Weather station earlier this year and its providing lots of interesting info so far. When we had a minor cold snap a couple of weeks ago my back and side yard stayed a zone below the front for 3-4 days.  

[Paradise Found]

I made this under story microclimate for desert plants but ending up putting some tender-ish plants.  Photo is from a long time ago. 

Edited December 14, 2021 by Paradise Found

[DAVEinMB]

1 hour ago, Paradise Found said:

Thats like my garden. House faces south and they are close together so I have wind tunnels I had to tame with trachy's,  bamboo & evergreens.  And I used tall evergreens to block cold northern winds. 

I'm doing the same. Where there aren't man-made structures to block the wind I'm employing bamboo, oleander, and such. It's becoming a nice little tropical-ish courtyard/tunnel 

[Swolte]

1 hour ago, Jesse PNW said:

I got a 5-sensor,  wireless temp/humidity monitor for this purpose.  Not only do I get to monitor multiple locations and record historic data, but I also don't have to walk outside to check the thermometer anymore!

Hmm, maybe its not too late to ask Santa for one. May I ask which one works for you?

[Jimhardy]

I don't know if this has been mentioned but you can go out after heavy frost and see the patterns

in the yard next to the house etc where frost forms/or doesnt, this gives a good idea where the cold/"warm" spots are.

[BeyondTheGarden]

7 hours ago, Swolte said:

Hmm, maybe its not too late to ask Santa for one. May I ask which one works for you?

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IPOESHI/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1  

Ambient Weather WS-3000-X5

I've been happy with it so far.  Figuring out the SD card was a PITA.  I can't remember the process but I had to change the format of the SD card.  Once you do that, it's as simple as plugging in the USB cord to your computer, and you can pull up historic data, set alarms and change parameters, etc.  
The only thing I wish it had, was a way to connect it to the internet so I can monitor it remotely, when I'm out of town.  Some day i'll get an actual weather station.  Those are just a bit more pricey.  

[Jimhardy]

 Thats a nice one....I got one with three sensors and it

was still a pain in the I don't read directions.

 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/284172489878

[Chester B]

I got a LaCrosse one from Costco and it came with 2 temp/humidity sensors, main indoor panel with temp/humidity, rain gauge and wind gauge.  I added another temp sensor.

It was WiFi ready and had an app that logged and displayed the data in graphs.  It was totally awesome worked great.  I had standard outdoor thermometers that I compared the readings to and they were all in agreement so I feel the temps were fairly accurate - accurate enough for me at least.

Well it comes with a one year warranty and I know why.  Just short of the first year (by a few days)  it could no longer connect to WIFI, and I could not make it happen no matter what I tried.  It still does connect with the individual pieces so I can see what's going on but I've lost the trending which I enjoyed so much.

[DAVEinMB]

15 minutes ago, Chester B said:

I got a LaCrosse one from Costco and it came with 2 temp/humidity sensors, main indoor panel with temp/humidity, rain gauge and wind gauge.  I added another temp sensor.

It was WiFi ready and had an app that logged and displayed the data in graphs.  It was totally awesome worked great.  I had standard outdoor thermometers that I compared the readings to and they were all in agreement so I feel the temps were fairly accurate - accurate enough for me at least.

Well it comes with a one year warranty and I know why.  Just short of the first year (by a few days)  it could no longer connect to WIFI, and I could not make it happen no matter what I tried.  It still does connect with the individual pieces so I can see what's going on but I've lost the trending which I enjoyed so much.

You had me so excited for this weather station the first 2 paragraphs haha

[Chester B]

26 minutes ago, DAVEinMB said:

You had me so excited for this weather station the first 2 paragraphs haha

I suppose you can't expect a lot for under $100.  If you buy one per year you could almost treat it like a subscription based service.

[knikfar]

I've been using my large trees as microclimates. For example, I know Butia doesn't like a lot of water. So I planted mine at the base of a large willow oak, on its south side. This does a few things. It shelters the Butia from northern winds a bit, provides a little bit of high canopy above it, keeps the soil fairly dry and radiates some heat at night. I think I'm going to try a Washingtontia using the same method. I'm in Raleigh NC, zone 7b so that's going to be a miracle to keep alive long term. 

[D Palm]

The first winter in my house years ago I would get up early to see where frost did or did not collect, and where it disappeared the fastest. South facing is warmer, water cools slower than the ground.

I also water my plants heavily at night before frost, because water loses heat slower…there is a risk of freezing though…more of an advanced technique. Sprinklers on a timer helps.

 

Edited December 15, 2021 by D Palm

[Jimhardy]

East is also good because even on a calm cold night, there is "drift" in

the atmosphere from west to east for the most part.

[WSimpson]

 

I show this palm a lot ,  but it is in my best microclimate so I wanted to show it again for some who might be  seeing  it for the first time , plus it's pertinent to this topic . That eave keeps it drier , and keeps some ice off it . In the winters when I had a  Low of 4F and a 5F several years ago , it was only only partially damaged . I don't know of another one in town , and I don't think I'll find another anywhere near as healthy as this one . Full sun all day on the south side of the house . 

Also my  biggest Chammy is to the left of the Butia . The Butia is taking it over but it is decent sized .

Will

 

Edited December 16, 2021 by Will Simpson

[Las Palmas Norte]

Nice Butia ^^^  Is that a small Sabal in the foreground?

Edited December 17, 2021 by Las Palmas Norte

[Jimhardy]

Some people can see microclimates..and some people need help. 

[NWpalms@206]

Waiting for a frost so I can walk around my property and find the areas of least frost and first to thaw. Should have a good selection of microclimates on our sunny 3 acres. Got a great draining, sloping, all day south facing sun with 50ft Madrone canopy over it for the Parajubaea hybrids. Have lots of palms to find a home for these next couple years to make a jungle! 

[BeyondTheGarden]

Your place sounds awesome.  I love Arbutus trees.  I grew a bunch from seed that I collected last fall.  They grew up slowly to 3-4" high and then just kinda stopped all summer.  I also collected a bunch of seed again this year.  

If I ever get rich (fat chance!) I'd love to buy a piece of property on a south-facing hill that drops straight off into the Sound.