It’s a rare reality to have a garden-perfect weather of warm, sunny days with a light evening shower. It’s more realistic to experience blasts of winter, burning summers, unpredictable rain and hostile winds. That’s just too much for your delicate garden, but there are a few steps you can take to weatherproof your garden.
Choosing plants that are suitable to the weather conditions in your area is the best way to sustain your garden through rough weather. Check out your USDA hardiness zone to help you decide which plants are suitable for your garden. Some plants that are extremely adaptable are coneflower, catmint, daylily and black-eyed Susan.
Plants can get stressed if they don’t get proper sunlight and soon they will grow weak and disheveled. Things can get worse with damp conditions and your roots can rot. Some plants cannot handle too much sunlight either and die slowly due to excessive heat. These plants will not thrive in the summer, let alone survive during winter. So, make sure you place your plants strategically where they can grow in a healthy manner.
There are many benefits to having a raised planting bed. During spring, they dry out and warm up faster, which is great if you have damp conditions. During summer, you can add lots of organic matter and mulch to offset the fast drying. On the other hand, a lower planting bed stays cooler and doesn’t dry out as quickly, which is great if you have excessive sunlight. In any case, a thick layer of mulch can protect all plants during winter.
Carefully assess your garden to determine how wet or dry the soil is. In any spot where water tends to pool, it is a good idea to plant flowers or plants which need more water. Planting plants that have similar needs can make your life easier because you can water (or not water) them together.