Then a strange thing happened. The house whirled around several times and then began to rise slowly into the air, like a balloon. Right in the place where Dorothy's house stood, two winds met, the north and the south, and from this collision a fierce hurricane was born.
Wind can become a limiting factor for garden development, drying out the soil and accelerating moisture loss in plants, causing soil erosion, and deterring beneficial insects.
An excellent solution is planting a windbreak, which can range from a row of herbaceous plants protecting, for example, a vegetable bed, to a substantial 10-meter-wide shelterbelt protecting the entire property.
The composition, height, density, and orientation of a windbreak play a crucial role in its effectiveness and in achieving specific objectives.
Yana Danyuk
Principal Designer
A windbreak protects an area twenty times its own height in width.
The most effective orientation is at a right angle to the prevailing wind direction.
The planting must be wind-permeable to avoid the formation of turbulent currents. The optimal porosity is 40–50%.
The selection of plant species for planting is determined by growth rate, wind tolerance, good canopy development, a deep and non-invasive root system, drought resistance, desired phenological characteristics, and productivity.
The plant palette for a windbreak is tailored to the conditions of each specific site and can include evergreen and deciduous species, nitrogen-fixing plants for soil improvement, or be used for harvesting nuts, fruits, and biomass, as well as enhancing biodiversity and conserving native species.
Planting design is capable of solving a vast range of challenges, from aesthetic to practical. For the design of windbreak plantings, please contact Gardeniana.
Yana Danyuk
Principal Designer
Yana Danyuk
Principal Designer of Gardeniana. She creates designer gardens in Athens and throughout Greece.
