ANTIETAM CURRENTS

MICROCLIMATES

THE CLIMATE ZONES AROUND YOUR HOME

Areas in the landscape that are influenced by sun or shade, dryness or moisture are known as microclimates. How your home is situated: North, East, South or West, will affect your gardens and the types of plants that will thrive. Our Franklin County area, particularly Waynesboro area, has been classified as a USDA Planting Zone 6 for many years; our recent warmer trend plus close proximity to our southern neighbors in Zone 7 has broadened some plant selections (crepe myrtle, gardenia, rosemary).

A South-facing garden area will warm up earlier in spring, and bulbs planted there will bloom earlier than other exposures. A brick or stone wall will hold heat as well as a brick or stone walkway. Surrounding the stones with small gravel will warm plants as well as absorb moisture and help with water runoff (permeable surface). If your driveway faces south, along this “inferno strip,” named so because of the heat from paved surface that burns grass or plants nearby, xeriscape with plants that like heat and dry areas, such as sedum, thyme, penstemmon, lavender, and rosemary. Placed in a south-facing yard, a deciduous tree, one that loses its leaves in winter, will allow the sun to warm your home in winter and cool it in summer when leaves appear and provide shade for home and garden.

A Northern exposure will most likely be cooler and soil will hold moisture longer. Snow cover will be last to melt in spring, which will delay bulb bloom time, which if planned properly, you can extend the bloom time in gardens around your home. The same bulb that is planted in south-facing gardens may bloom a week earlier than in the north-facing garden areas.

A shade tree in the Western exposure can block winds and provide relief from hot mid to end-of -day sun, and help absorb water runoff from roof areas. Eastern exposures are good for plants that will tolerate part day sun but will have shade in the hot afternoon sun.

Observe your home for microclimates when you choose landscape plants or make changes. Where you place plants can extend garden beauty with spring blooms and fall foliage (some shrub and tree leaves will be more colorful with more sun, others will burn and foliage will not stay attractive). With proper landscape techniques and using plants and rock/stone (hardscape) you can create hot spots or cool spots, dry areas or moist areas. By catching or directing rainwater from downspouts you can create moist areas or rain gardens, and choose perennials, shrubs and trees that prefer moisture. By selecting native plants such as bayberry, viburnum, winterberry or witchhazel, to name a few, or native grasses such as panicum virgatum (switchgrass), these can tolerate occasional dry spells and provide scent and color by leaves, blooms or berries for 3 or 4-season interest and minimum care. In spring, a southern exposure can warm quicker and bulbs can emerge prematurely, so prevent frost damage to spring bulbs with a light mulch of leaves or pine boughs. You can also protect sensitive early-blooming shrubs or trees by planting on the northwest side of your home. High spots (hillsides) or low spots create microclimates depending on south or north exposure. During the fall planting season and next spring are good times to move plants that aren’t thriving. A degree or 2 of extra warmth or coolness can make a difference in plant survival and bloom!

Make the climates around your house and gardens happy ones!

The Antietam Watershed Association will meet on October 8, 2008, at 7 p.m. in the Washington Township Meeting Room on Welty Road. The yearly Board election will be held, plus discussion of upcoming events. The AWA can be contacted at 717-762-9417 or visit our website at www.antietamws.org.

 

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