Animals are the easiest guides to follow for weather wise gardening. Those of you 鈥榳ell-weathered鈥?gardeners that can take a tip from signs in the wind the sky and even in your plants, most likely will have also learnt to check your joints, bones and nose when all else fails!
You would do well to heed the many little weather-related rhymes and sayings if you are an aspiring gardener since the 鈥榬ed sky at night鈥?is certain to be your delight and when the 鈥榗hirping of crickets is loud鈥?you can be sure to expect not a cloud!
The reality is that atmospheric conditions and weather changes are indicated by the behaviour of flora and fauna which are programmed to be sensitive to shifts in the environment that affect their own survival. Here are some pointers that are not just children鈥檚 verses and old wives tales but handy hints to remember for better gardening:
The sun may be shining and conditions may seem to be ideal for your next gardening project, but round the corner may be weather wise secrets for gardening that only a bird or beast may know.
Signs of Animals:
Birds will fly lower down in the denser air when a storm is imminent, while some species will be seen swooping and gobbling close to the ground busily picking up insects that also fly lower for the same reason.
Cows will get in a huddle when bad weather is round the corner.
Spiders leave their webs before the storm.
Bees return to their hives for the storm.
Signs of Plants:
Storms are heralded by leaves of several types of trees turning 鈥榖acks up鈥?
Daisies, crocuses and tulips will open to fair weather and close to avoid the bad.
Certain flowers give out stronger fragrance prior to a shower.
Signs of the Environment:
Fog ushers in frost.
A ring of cloud around the moon predicts rain.
A noon time rainbow forecasts rain
Signs in your Body:
Approaching damp or chill can sometimes be felt in the joints.
A sudden whiff of unusual freshness in the air speaks of rain
An experienced gardener has tucked up his sleeve several strategies to preserve heat in extreme weather, to force flowering, or stretch the season of regeneration 鈥?in spite of the weather. Weather wise gardening then not only entails reading the weather from the signs around, but also being savvy about how to cheat the weather and get the best productivity from your garden. The smart gardener would be aware that the micro climate of his own garden cannot be evaluated by obtaining regular weather reports alone.
For instance when he wants to grow tomatoes which are happiest in the tropics, he employs methods like covers made of nylon for the rows, milk jugs made of plastic and cold frames to trap sun-heated air around the plants. These systems protect from wind, avoid frost and are conducive to humidity.
Weather wise gardening must be the utilization of as many signals as can be picked up, to prepare strategies to still produce the best results from your garden 鈥?rain or shine!
