Wind, the shamal and your garden

The north-westerly shamal, strongest from February to June, and the hot dusty winds of summer dry seedlings faster than the sun does, snap tall crops, shred leaves and sandblast young plants.

What wind does to plants

• It dries leaves faster than the roots can resupply, so a seedling wilts in damp soil.
• It snaps brittle stems: dill, fava bean, okra, anything tall.
• It tears big leaves (zucchini, pumpkin) and bruises fruit.
• It knocks flowers off and disrupts pollination, and carries dust and salt onto leaves near the coast.

Windbreaks that work

A half-open windbreak works better than a solid wall. A solid wall creates turbulence that rolls over the top and hits the plants right behind it. A barrier with about 40–50% gaps — a hedge, a row of tall plants, or windbreak netting on a frame — slows the wind and calms the air for roughly five to ten times its own height downwind.

Put it on the north-west side. If you use a living hedge, choose drought- and salt-tolerant shrubs from a local nursery.

Other protection

• Grow tall crops in the lee of a wall or a taller crop.
• Stake early, on the side away from the wind, and tie with soft ties.
• Cover seedlings with low tunnels or mesh in February and March.
• Water and mulch more on windy days because plants lose water faster, and stand pots against a wall or tie them.