Why is Weather a Significant Factor When Planning to Grow a Garden?

While Australia is known for its beautiful weather all year long, there’s an optimum climate for each plant to perfectly grow, thrive, and bloom. And as crop choices generally vary depending on climate, unless your garden is under snow or your area is in the middle of a drought, the country’s weather is generally mild enough to plant something at any time of the year. 

That said, it’s important to remember that weather plays an important role in several decisions regarding your garden, like what to grow, when to grow them, your sowing strategy, and watering schedules. You’ll find that the professionals at Garden-R Garden Maintenance Sydney offer some useful tips for maintaining a garden. You have to keep in mind that different countries have different climates, and it’s important that you reference guides that are relevant to your climate and your kind of soil and garden in general, and also what season you plan to plant your garden in.  In this article, we will explain why weather is a significant factor when planning your garden.  

Seasons Guide You to Divide Your Planting Space 

To decide on – and achieve – an efficient cycle of crops, you might want to think broadly in terms of splitting your space in two; one spring-autumn bed or container, and one summer-winter space. You will want to plant your spring-autumn bed in early spring for harvest in summer, then replanted in early autumn for harvest over winter. 

The summer-winter space will be planted in early summer for harvest in autumn, then replanted in early winter for harvest in spring. This way you’ll always have something coming into harvest. Each space could be as small as a single pot, or it could be a much bigger garden bed containing several crops.

Weather Cycles Can Determine Your Crops 

Some plants can handle harsh colds, while others thrive in heat. That’s why you will want to plan your planting schedules accordingly. For instance, if you’re going to plant in August and harvest in December; and replant in January to harvest in May, you can start with peas, and follow them with cucumber in warmer areas, or spinach in colder climates. Spinach is to be replaced with onions; beetroots can be followed by bok choy; lettuce may be replaced with carrots or radishes; Chinese cabbage can be followed by replanting peas; and turnips can be replaced with bulb fennel. 

Chilly Winter Can Alter Your Sowing Strategy 

Despite the usually chilly winters, there are plenty of vegetables that you can enjoy from the garden over the winter months. That said, one of the common problems is that the plants of a winter veg garden are reluctant to grow over winter, basically because the nights are too cold. 

To counter that problem, your sowing strategy needs to be altered. In preparation for winter, try sowing early enough in the season so that the plants are basically at harvest size when the cold weather hits. Early to mid-summer time, for example, is an ideal time for sowing or planting slow growers like cabbage, broccoli, and carrots. Mid to late summer, on the other hand, is an excellent time to sow leafy greens like English spinach and leaf lettuces. 

Heatwaves Can Dictate Your Watering Schedule

As nice as warm weather might be, extreme conditions and record-breaking temperatures can easily wreak havoc on your precious plants. And while it’s quite obvious that when it’s hot, plants will need watering, deciding on the schedule can be tricky. 

For instance, it is generally advised that plants should not be watered while in full sun, as wet leaves on sunny days are believed to cause scorch in plants. On the other hand, watering in full sun is not water efficient, for most of it would evaporate before entering the soil. 

The Power of the Elements 

The weather has an effect on every living creature, and your garden is no exception. While you may have control over factors like the source of your seeds, fertilization, and daily care, you certainly can’t control the weather. That’s why it’s important to take it into consideration when planning for your next garden plantation. 

While some measures include planning for sowing times, watering, and what to plant, others entail day-to-day behaviors and points to look out for. A simple recommendation is to avoid excessive walking on a brown lawn during heat waves, because this will lead to bald patches in the garden. This is because a combination of dryness and heavy wear are just too much for any lawn to handle. So, before you start planting your garden, do your research and find out what you need to plan for, what you have to be careful about, and the do’s and don’ts of gardening according to the weather in your area.