Very exposed site

ijuttner

We have recently renovated our house and now  looking to redesign the garden. We are very very expsoed. Wind I assume comes from the sea about 15 mins  drive away. We are on the Somerset levels there is not much to reduce the force. Before  doing anything more to the garden I think we need some sort of windbreak where we back on to the field. Its going to need to be about 65-70m in length and we are on a tight budget. we are considering  creating a 5 ft ish berm (we have a lot of excavated soil from foundations etc to utilise) which i would plant up with shrubs etc on the gentle slope externally and then  plant  an evergreen hedge on top to create a shelterbelt on top of the berm. We wonder if that would push the wind up and over. Does anyone have any experience of doing similar or advice? 

Any hedging advice would be great too- currently considering Portuguese laurel or cherry laurel. We have very heavy clay soil but drainage on top of berm would be better. 

Thank you. 

pansyface

Hello,

Well, firstly, I hope you have good flood insurance!😊

I believe that wind strength and the potential damage caused by strong winds is best reduced by allowing some of the air to pass through a barrier rather than trying to stop it. The greater the resistance to the wind, the greater the chance of forming eddies and other problems.

I would work with the naturally occurring plant, namely willow. It is suited to the soil, it provides a quick screen, it is dirt cheap, it roots from a stick stuck into the ground and, most importantly, it provides a slight rather than a total barrier to the prevailing wind. 

In my opinion, laurel leaves would be too impenetrable and just cause the wind to rise and fall rather than slow down.

ijuttner

Thank you pansyface.  Yes there is willow in abundance here!

amancalledgeorge

Good idea @pansyface really can't bare the proliferation of those laurels...they create such a monotonous display. 

Nollie

As well as using willow for your main windbreak, you could also make/buy some willow hurdles to create a bit more of a wind break in specific areas, such as a seating area or veg garden. Climbing plants will also do the same with some support structure.