How wind affects your garden (and what you can do about it)

When you hear about ‘wind damage’ in the UK, you’re probably thinking about broken fence panels and storms that rage all night. But the reality of wing damage can be much more subtle than a weather warning. 

Even regular, day-to-day gusts can take a toll on your garden. Especially in coastal regions like Merseyside, where plenty of gardens have exposed spots and open plots. It’s these places where wind can dry out the soil and strip moisture from leaves. 

To keep delicate root systems stable, you need to know how to protect plants from wind. Whitaker’s Garden Centre is here to help! With our tips on planting and supports, you can slow down the wind. 

What does wind actually do to your garden?

Before you learn the fixes, it helps to know what you’re up against. As wind moves through your garden, it essentially acts as a giant sponge, evaporating moisture from your soil and the leaves themselves.

Your plants can even be parched after a rain shower! Stronger gusts can cause something called ‘windrock’, which is when young trees or top-heavy plants move back and forth in the ground until their roots loosen. 

Young veg plants may be flattened altogether, and strong winds will shred delicate leaves: practically speaking, wind is also capable of knocking over containers, fences, and can even deter pollinators who prefer to forage in sheltered spots. 

How to spot the windiest parts of your garden

First, perform a visual assessment. 

Are your plants leaning heavily in one direction? Do certain patio containers dry out constantly, no matter how much you water them? Look out for rocking shrubs, flattened seedlings, loose fence panels, and foliage that’s scorched on one side. 

Watch for whirling eddies in corners where debris tends to accumulate. If you have narrow side returns or a gap between your fence and shed, pay special attention to these places as well, as the breeze will naturally funnel through them.

The golden rule: filter wind

When the wind’s howling, your first instinct might be to put up the thickest fence panels possible. But when strong gusts hit a solid barrier, the air is forced up and can crash down forcefully on the other side.

You shouldn’t stop the wind dead; filtering it with a semi-permeable windbreak is usually much more effective. Some good options include trellis with climbers, woven willow or hazel hurdles, windbreak mesh, mixed hedging, and shrubs. 

1. Use plants to build natural shelter

When learning how to protect plants from wind, you might be surprised to learn that plants themselves can do some of the work. Living windbreaks look great and are great for filtering gusts. A mixed native hedge tends to work best. 

Combining resilient species like hawthorn, holly, blackthorn, field maple, and dog rose creates a tough, tangled barrier that diffuses harsh winds. 

2. Protect pots, young plants and veg patches

If you’re waiting for your natural windbreaks to grow, there are plenty of immediate steps you can take to protect your most vulnerable plants. Cluster containers and place your heaviest planters on the exposed outside corners to anchor the group.

Wind also dries out very fast, so apply a thick layer of mulch over your borders and veg patches to insulate delicate roots. 

3. Don’t forget fences, greenhouses and garden furniture

Wind can do damage to plants, but it can also rearrange your furniture! If you’ve had a strong wind weather warning, take a quick walk around the garden: look for unanchored accessories that could cause severe damage to your property. 

Here’s a quick checklist you can run through: 

• Test fence posts for rot, and make sure trellis panels are firmly attached
• Lock shed doors and check greenhouse panes are secure
• Take down hanging baskets and collapse garden parasols

Visit Whitaker’s Garden Centre today! 

When you need sturdy stakes and flexible ties to secure your top-heavy blooms, Whitaker's Garden Centre can help. Pop into Whitaker’s Garden Centre in Prescot today – our friendly team is always on hand with the tools and advice you need to wind-proof your garden.

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