How to Windproof Your Garden

January, the windiest month of the year, has come and gone, but those surprisingly strong gusts will stay well through the spring. So how do you protect your terrace or garden from the elements? Ask any gardening enthusiast and they will tell you the same thing: The only way is through a barrier that is securely held down yet still allows enough air to flow through.

So let’s go over a few options for your outdoor space to ensure you can make the most of the daily breeze year-round, without damage to your plants, breaking stems or dried out flowers.

Securing tall plants

Stop your plants from bending with the wind by using canes to support them, giving them something sturdy to latch on to. Climbing plants need to be secured, however, some winds are strong enough to render these measures useless, and you end up going through all the work of staking your plants only to see them collapse from the strain as soon as the weather turns.

 

Long-term solution

If you want to ensure your plants are protected from the elements yet get plenty of sunlight, awnings and canopies are truly a long-lasting option that require little to no maintenance yet still look great. We suggest pergola awnings: their fixed frame design stays in place, but it maintains the retractable feature, providing protection only when you need it to. Stability is the key quality: the additional front support posts ensure the wind won’t compromise their structure, making pergola awnings both convenient and durable.

 

View our range of Pergola Awnings.

 

The natural option

If you have enough time on your hands and don’t mind a bit of DIY, then planting a hedge or a few rows of trees around your garden may be the way to go. If you’re just starting out, alternate between tall and short plants, the high ones will provide protection from windy days to the smaller shrubs.

Downside: although you can protect your plants from the elements this way, if you’re unsure of the right type to plant, you risk blocking more sunlight, and lowering the chances of producing healthy fruit and vegetables. They are also not low-maintenance solutions and require quite a bit of knowledge to plant and maintain correctly.

 

Low maintenance

Whatever the weather decides to throw at you, freestanding awnings are flexible alternatives when it comes to windproofing your garden. They are easy to store when not in use, yet still able to cover large spaces. 

To maintain their structural stability, but not having to resort to concrete foundations, the Markilux Syncra 2 Flex is a butterfly awning that relies on stabilisation boxes, making it truly the most effortless option.

 

What to avoid

Avoid solid fencing, it will force the air over and can make wind problems worse. There is always a risk that the winds may bring the fence down too. Glass greenhouses need extra care from difficult weather, so be mindful of your garden’s layout when it comes to picking a location. Screenings, although fast and efficient, are not always aesthetically appealing.

Maintain aesthetics

Just because you need to protect your garden doesn’t mean you need to compromise on style. Butterfly awnings add style and function to your patio. There are endless options when it comes to fabric and accessories, including frame colours. With complete freedom of choice on design, you can make your garden complement your home perfectly.

 

Now that you’ve read our handy options for protection against the harsh natural environment all-year-round, you can make your garden into a truly sheltered living space. To find your perfect windproof awning, speak to our team about a free site survey.