If there is one thing we can be sure of, it’s that Wellington is windy. In fact, it’s one of the windiest regions in the country, where winds reach gale force for an average of half the year. Beyond affecting day-to-day life for residents, high wind speeds also affect the region’s flora and fauna.
If you have green space in Wellington, you’ve probably noticed that you need to consider this factor when it comes to your lawn and garden choices. Coastal gardening can add another layer of challenge, as the wind gets even stronger the closer you live to the ocean.
So, let’s talk about Wellington windy climate gardening tips. NZ lawn care takes on a whole new dimension in this region, so we’re unpacking our best recommendations for Wellington lawn care and general landscaping.
Why is Wellington so windy?
Wellington is notoriously windy because it effectively sits right in the middle of a natural wind tunnel. It’s at the lowest point of the North Island, and centrally located towards the Cook Strait, so it’s particularly vulnerable to strong westerly winds.
Winds barrel across the Tasman Sea and sweep across the country, moving particularly quickly through the Cook Strait because there is very little obstruction. That funnel regularly brings gale-force winds to Wellington, which juts out just enough into the Strait to catch the full force of those coastal patterns.
If you’re a property owner or a renter in Wellington, your NZ lawn care will differ from what is best for your lawn and garden in other regions. Plants here don’t usually get the same periods of calm to establish and recover. Salt, surf, and strong winds batter the region regularly, so local gardeners need a few tricks up their sleeves.
Luckily, Wellington windy-climate gardening is a speciality for the Paramount Gardening team. So here are a few tips to help you tackle your coastal gardening so you can get the best results
4 Wellington Windy Climate Gardening Tips
1. Go for wind-tolerant plants.
The single most effective thing you can do for your Wellington garden is to choose plants that can handle the wind, rather than fighting the climate.
Wind-tolerant plants are flexible enough to bend, with strong root systems and small, leathery leaves that cling tightly to the plant. That sounds like a small pool of options, but for Wellington’s windy climate gardening, you’ve actually got quite a few options:
- Flax (Harakeke)
- Coprosma
- Hebe
- Griselinia
- Pohutukawa
- Phormium
For your lawn, choosing a grass species or blend that handles wind and salt exposure matters too. Fescue-based lawn mixes tend to perform best.
2. Create shelter where you can.
Even when you opt for wind-tolerant plants, it still pays to give them some protection. While solid walls and barriers might seem like the best shelter, you actually want to invest in something called “permeable windbreaks”.
Strong walls and fences will push wind over the top of them and create more turbulence on the other side, but windbreaks like hedges, shelter plantings, and slatted screens just reduce the speed of the wind before it can reach your garden.
This means your garden essentially becomes a microclimate where more plants are likely to thrive. Plant the shelter – like a good hedge – first and let it establish before attempting to grow more sensitive plantings in its lee.
For coastal gardening specifically, consider how the wind moves across your property; watch for patterns and plant accordingly.
3. Adjust your NZ lawn care.
Your NZ lawn care here needs to account for conditions that property owners elsewhere in the country simply don’t face. You’re dealing with wind that sweeps water away, so your lawn can be dryer and watering might not hold up as well.
This means adjusting a few things about your Wellington lawn care to strike the right balance:
- Mow higher than you think you need to. Long grass creates better shade for the soil, so moisture won’t evaporate as quickly.
- Aerate regularly. You want deep roots to develop! Consistent wind exposure can compact soil, so a yearly aerator pass will help your lawn develop strong roots.
- Less is more with your watering frequency. Rather than watering every day, water deeply every few days so deeper roots form to seek moisture lower in the soil.
4. Mulch well and protect your soil.
Funnily enough, the wind also strips mulch from your soil, often faster than you think. But mulching is an important practice for protecting your soil and plants from ongoing wind.
Top up with a generous layer of mulch to reduce how much water the wind can pull from your soil’s surface. This also moderates soil temperature and suppresses weeds that would otherwise compete with your plants for moisture. For coastal gardening, you can also use mulch to make a small barrier between salt-laden air and the soil surface.
Sort your Wellington windy climate gardening with Paramount Gardening.
We are your elite property care partner, providing lawn and gardening services for homes and businesses nationwide. For all aspects of NZ garden care and lawn care, you can rely on our expert team. Get in touch today for a free quote on your windy or coastal gardening needs.
