Golfweek Features Jerry Pate Design and Teeth of the Dog - Read More
Have you ever wondered why the same plant does well in one area of your property, but fails miserably as little as 10 feet away? The answer may be in the unique conditions that sections of your landscape have. That’s where mastering microclimates becomes important. Learning more about microclimates can lead to choosing plants that will thrive in a particular spot.
Consulting the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map will tell you if a plant will likely survive in your region. A “full sun” or “part shade” label gives you a general idea of whether a plant will work in your landscape. Long-term planting success often requires a better understanding of each specific planting location, though.
What Are Microclimates?
Microclimates are relatively small areas within a particular landscape where environmental conditions differ from the surrounding area as a whole. Sometimes variations in temperature, precipitation, humidity, and wind patterns can be dramatic from spot to spot. A shaded area on the North side of your house may be 10-15 degrees cooler than the area in full sun next to your driveway. Some parts of your lawn may stay wet for days after a soaking rain, yet others are dried out within hours.
On a larger scale, a microclimate may describe an area measured in square miles. Cities typically record temperatures that are higher than the surrounding geographical area. This is referred to as the urban heat island (UHI) effect. Within cities, the temperature in a park with lots of vegetation will differ significantly from a densely built area. We can quickly see how mastering microclimates is beneficial on many different levels.
Factors That Influence Microclimates
There are a number of factors that influence the environmental conditions in various parts of both large and small landscapes. Some of the primary influences are:
- Topography: Elevation changes such as hills, slopes, and valleys create variations in temperatures and moisture retention.
- Sun Exposure: Areas of a landscape that face South will have very different conditions than those that face North. Shade from vegetation or buildings also plays a part.
- Soil Variations: Different soil composition affects how moisture is retained or lost and in turn has an impact on the temperature of the soil as well as the surrounding area.
- Vegetation: Cooler and more humid conditions are found beneath trees and shrubs and these conditions can affect the area immediately surrounding the vegetation.
- Structures: Built environments provide shade and cooler conditions, but at the same time may radiate significant reflected heat.
The First Step In Mastering Microclimates
Observation and record keeping is the first step in mastering microclimates. Before making plant selections, it is important to do a little surveillance that will lead to a better understanding of conditions in various parts of the landscape.
Tracking sunlight patterns throughout the day and throughout the year is an important first step. Areas that are getting direct sunlight in the morning may not be getting it just an hour later due to shade from trees or buildings. Conversely, some areas may be shaded all morning but then be subject to the scorching rays of the afternoon sun.
On a longer time scale, some spots may get direct sun all winter and spring, only to be fully shaded when trees are fully leafed out. The angle of the sun also changes throughout the year, creating further variation possibilities. Visual assessments recorded in a notebook can really aid in understanding your landscape’s light conditions.
Moisture patterns should also be noted and recorded. Look for areas where water pools after heavy rain, as well as slopes or hard-packed areas that dry out quickly. It is helpful to take a snapshot of these conditions for later reference during months where rain occurs less often.
Air patterns are a little more difficult to assess, but still important. Just some careful attention to where trees and shrubs are being affected by light breezes or heavier winds can give you enough insight.
Sunlight, moisture, and wind patterns all have an effect on temperature conditions in various areas of the landscape. Air and soil temperature readings at various times during the day are another item to go in your notebook. You may be surprised at how much variation there is between cooler and warmer areas.
Large-Scale Observation
On a larger scale, landscape architects and developers take microclimate observation to a whole new level. Temperature and humidity sensors, thermal infrared cameras, multispectral cameras, and anemometers are all employed to capture and record microclimate data that will influence planning decisions. As with many industries, AI-enabled drones are also becoming commonplace for microclimate data collection.
Mastering Microclimates With Smart Plant Choices
Once there is a good understanding of the microclimates at play in the landscape, it’s time to choose the right plants for specific areas. Mastering microclimates involves finding plants that are not only viable in your USDA zone, but are also suited to the particular microclimate in the area that you need to fill.
In hot and dry areas, look for plants that are labeled for full sun. These will often have needle-like or waxy leaves. Fast-growing plants that develop deep tap roots are good choices. Some common options include:
- Lantana (Lantana camara): Thrives in heat and afternoon sun and is quite drought-tolerant once established.
- Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea): A native favorite that attracts butterflies. Withstands summer heat and drought once established.
- Salvia (Salvia nemorosa / Salvia coccinea): Heat-tolerant and provides constant color throughout the summer.
- Century Plant (Agave americana): Perfect for slopes that dry out quickly.
- Rosemary and Oregano: Edible options that require good drainage and absolute maximum sun.
Cool, shaded, and slightly damp areas require plants that thrive in part to full shade and will tolerate damp conditions. Plants known to love humus-rich, loamy soil are often a good choice. Shade lovers include:
- Oakleaf Hydrangea (Hydrangea quercifolia): A great native shrub that loves morning sun and afternoon shade.
- Inland Sea Oats (Chasmanthium latifolium): An excellent native grass that is well adapted to shady conditions and rich soil.
- Hostas: Low-maintenance perennials that delight with their lush, broad foliage.
- Ferns: Varieties like the Ostrich Fern, Autumn Fern, and Maidenhair Fern love cool, moist soil and deep shade.
Moisture retaining areas like depressions and swales require plants that are adapted to near swamp-like conditions and have no problem with “wet feet.” They must also be able to tolerate heavy frost. Some viable options include:
- Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata): A clump-forming perennial that thrives natively in saturated ditches and damp, mucky soils.
- American Beautyberry (Callicarpa americana): Tolerates humid, moisture-heavy areas and adds a splash of color.
- Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum): A commanding, architectural plant that displays vanilla-scented, dusty-pink to purple flower heads atop sturdy stems. It is most effective on the upper slopes and edges of a wet area or swale.
More Detail Equals More Success
Mastering microclimates is the secret to choosing plants that will thrive in every spot in your landscape. It starts with developing a more detailed understanding of a landscape’s environmental conditions. Many properties will have two or more areas with differing microclimates. Lumping them into one category will often lead to poor results, while treating them as individual environments leads to healthy plants.
At Jerry Pate Design, our experienced landscape professionals not only approach each property individually, but each specific area of a property as well. That’s how we create spectacular designs that stand the test of time, no matter the conditions.
