Or, even though you live in a hot-humid region, your home may be situated in a
comfortable microclimate because of abundant shade and dry breezes. Nearby bodies
of water may increase your site's humidity or decrease its air temperature.
Microclimatic factors also help determine what plants may or may not grow in your
landscape.
When you use the USDA Hardiness Zone and spring and fall frost-date maps, you need
to be aware that your microclimate may make where you garden very different from
the information found on the maps.
If you are in a cold valley, your minimum winter temperatures may be lower than what
the map indicates. As a result, you may actually be in a hardiness zone that is colder
than that shown on the map, and some marginal plants may not survive your winters.
Your house and other buildings create many microclimates around your yard. Just like
urban areas, your house absorbs heat during the day and radiates it back at night. If
your prevailing winds are from the northwest, this creates a warmer, more sheltered
microclimate on the south and east sides of your house.
While the north side of your house may receive harsh winds and no sun during the
winter, keep in mind that in summer - when the sun rises north of east and sets north
of west - these areas can be baked by heat and dried out by the same prevailing
winds.
Keep in mind, too, that when wind hits your house, it creates turbulence and higher
wind speeds along the wall and as the wind goes around the corners of the building.
These areas may not be good places to plant broad-leaved evergreens or other plants
that can be easily dried out by winds.
Bark on young trees planted on the south or southwest sides of buildings are more
prone to cracking in winter.
Contact your county's Cooperative Extension staff for local advice on microclimates.
comfortable microclimate because of abundant shade and dry breezes. Nearby bodies
of water may increase your site's humidity or decrease its air temperature.
Microclimatic factors also help determine what plants may or may not grow in your
landscape.
When you use the USDA Hardiness Zone and spring and fall frost-date maps, you need
to be aware that your microclimate may make where you garden very different from
the information found on the maps.
If you are in a cold valley, your minimum winter temperatures may be lower than what
the map indicates. As a result, you may actually be in a hardiness zone that is colder
than that shown on the map, and some marginal plants may not survive your winters.
Your house and other buildings create many microclimates around your yard. Just like
urban areas, your house absorbs heat during the day and radiates it back at night. If
your prevailing winds are from the northwest, this creates a warmer, more sheltered
microclimate on the south and east sides of your house.
While the north side of your house may receive harsh winds and no sun during the
winter, keep in mind that in summer - when the sun rises north of east and sets north
of west - these areas can be baked by heat and dried out by the same prevailing
winds.
Keep in mind, too, that when wind hits your house, it creates turbulence and higher
wind speeds along the wall and as the wind goes around the corners of the building.
These areas may not be good places to plant broad-leaved evergreens or other plants
that can be easily dried out by winds.
Bark on young trees planted on the south or southwest sides of buildings are more
prone to cracking in winter.
Contact your county's Cooperative Extension staff for local advice on microclimates.
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Alternative-Heating-Info.com
< Landscaping Shading >
Landscaping and Your Microclimate
The climate immediately surrounding your home is called its microclimate.
When landscaping for energy efficiency, it's important to consider your microclimate
along with your regional climate.
Your home's microclimate may receive more sun, shade, wind, rain, snow, moisture,
and/or dryness than average local conditions.
If your home is located on a sunny southern slope, it may have a warm microclimate,
even if you live in a cool region.
When landscaping for energy efficiency, it's important to consider your microclimate
along with your regional climate.
Your home's microclimate may receive more sun, shade, wind, rain, snow, moisture,
and/or dryness than average local conditions.
If your home is located on a sunny southern slope, it may have a warm microclimate,
even if you live in a cool region.