Sun, Moon and ... wind

Next to the floor (we will come to that in a little more detail) the climate also has a decisive influence on the garden. We live here in the so-called temperate latitudes. This is what sets them apart, that they are generally of 4 Seasons are shaped. However, this classification is only of limited use for the gardener, because it is way too rough.

We are interested in the existing microclimate. The growth of the plants takes place, if we ignore the trees, in a layer close to the ground of up to 2 Meters above the earth's crust. This area is subject to many different influences. building, Hedges, Walls and even elevations in the ground can significantly change the microclimate.
That is why it is advisable, if you take notes once during the year about the climatic conditions in the ridge.

These could contain such information, for example:

Where does the snow melt first?? (This is the warmest place in spring and maybe the place for a cold frame or the first signs of spring.)
Which places does the sun shine longest during the different months??
Where is it particularly warm?
Which areas are particularly shady?
Where do you get the impression, that it is always a bit cool?
Which parts of the garden are particularly windy? They also dry out very quickly?
Where is it driest??
Where is the soil most humid?
There is a particularly large amount of leaves somewhere?
At what point is the ground frozen first in autumn or winter??
Do you notice anything else? (Take a look at your garden, like you're seeing him for the first time.)

I think, these questions help a lot, in order to be able to make an optimal selection of plants for the planned planting. Even if we have a small garden, That doesn't mean that for a long time, that you will find the same conditions everywhere on the site. That is why it makes sense in your garden plan, draw the individual zones.

But why should one pay attention to the moon??
A garden at night has a special magic. Who wants it romantically, he can already look, In which nights the places in the ridge are shown in the right light.

We have now roughly classified the soil according to its substance and we also know, which climatic factors influence the different areas. Nevertheless, we have to deal with the garden soil again. Nutrients and soil organisms are further decisive factors for plant growth. You should also take this into account before creating an exact plan. We'll continue with that in the next post.