Micro Climates In Your Yard

Does the word Micro Climates scare you?

The word is actually spelled microclimates (all crunched together) but I like to separate it to make it less scary. Micro means very small. Climate means weather conditions.

A micro climate is just areas of climate conditions in your yard!
These can be hot spots, cold spots, wet spots, dry spots, sunny spots or shady spots.

Most yards contain more than one climate condition. The areas covered may be as small as one foot or as large as 100 foot. Some conditions are pre-exsisting and come with the lay of the land. Other weather conditions are created by things we have done.

Knowing your yards micro-climates can help you choose and position your garden plants.

Let's take each area and discuss them a little.

Sunny Spots

These are areas in your yard that receive 6 or more hours of sun per day. Morning sun is not as hot nor as bright as afternoon/late afternoon sun. So if you have the late afternoon sun hitting an area in your yard that's a good place for sun loving plants.

Shady Spots

Shade is by far the hardest to understand. Some landscapers will assume the North side of a house is shade. I've seen sunny north sides, so make sure you check yours before buying any plants.

Deep Shade means no sunlight hits the spot. You will have a hard time growing plants in deep shade.

Filtered Shade means that sunlight does hit the area but not directly. The sun passes through things like leaves, branches, or arbor structures before hitting the planting area.

Part Shade is an area that recieves morning sun but no hot sun in the afternoon or evening.

Here are some perennials for shady micro climates.

Cold Spots

These are typically spots in your yard that receive the brunt of winter winds.

High spots in your yard can also be cold spots. Spots that have no protection from structures or exsisting plants can be cold areas.

Choosing plants for a cold area can be tricky. Drive around your neighborhood and look at the plants that are growing in the area. If the micro climate matches yours and the plants look healthy you will get an idea of the type you can use for that section.

Hot Spots

Areas that have the the direct sun hitting them for most of the day are hot spots.

One spot that people don't realize can be a hot spot is the space directly surrounding your central air unit. It emits hot air when it is running.

Hot areas are great for succulent type plants.

Other Micro Climate Spots

Areas that receive water from your downspouts.
Areas directly under a window air conditioning unit.
The area directly surrounding a dryer vent.

Knowing the micro climate of the exact area where you are going to put a plant will help you choose the correct plant for that spot. Just remember this saying:

ONE PLANT AT A TIME