Has anyone tried a windbreak on their plot?

[purplekat]

I'm thinking of planting a windbreak on my plot, made of currant bushes or similar, to try and create a bit of shelter from the side winds.

Has anyone tried with plants or even netting? Did it make much difference to the crops?

[Thelma Sanders]

I have raspberry canes on the NW side of the plot (occasional cold winter winds) and debris netting and some old woody rosemary bushes on the SW side (all year round on our windy site)

Putting the debris netting in the gaps has stopped the wind blowing my sweetcorn over for the last 2 years!

[sparrow100]

Like Thelma I have raspberries on the NW side of one of my plots. On the other I have a thick blackthorn hedge to the south and redcurrants on the NW. Currants take a while to reach the height and density needed for much protection.

Other people on my site use brambles/cultivated blackberries as a windbreak, but they do seem to grow wildly out of control fairly easily.

[4390evans]

I read somewhere on the net that some people in the US use corn as a windbreak

[Mr Bones]

I made a number of debris netting windbreaks by sewing a wide, open-ended hem each end so it can be slipped over a couple of thin posts, then one in the middle for extra support. They're put up where they're most needed according to crop rotation. Haven't needed them so far this year but the last two years were bad to the point of crops snapping if they weren't protected. I can see the attraction of growing a wind break, unfortunately we get quite a bit of rotor from trees and buildings so it comes from all directions.

[roitelet]

Netting works fine. The height is calculated by for every foot in height you will get eight foot of protection. Make sure it's high enough as the wind damage will be moved to the area unprotected.

Hope that makes sense.

[veggiechicken]

Apparently, Jerusalem Artichokes make good
wind breaks (or, as an innocent student in the permaculture class called them - "breakwinds"
PS This is absolutely true, we bit our lips and carried on regardless ......and it still makes me laugh

[barleywine]

I put debris netting up as windbreak round the whole plot - which really helped. What I'd say though is that it's made it difficult to weed at times - I feel like I'm facing a constant battle against the encroaching couch grass. I also put a hawthorn and sloe hedge on the windiest edge, but it does require pruning and also I've lost the battle with the weeds there too - despite putting down weed suppressant.

So if you do put some up, and on my really windy plot it has helped, then think about how to keep it clear of weeds.

I also put some individual nets up around raised beds and that has helped too.

There's fruit bushes round the edge too which are helping break the wind up.

[purplekat]

Looks like netting it is then, at least I shouldn't lose much growing room then. Although I also have the horrible couch grass springing up everywhere, so will need to figure that part out. Thanks

[ESBkevin]

I have received special permission to create a wooden wind break and sun heat sink next to my fruit trees which are growing espalier style. It will be up to 5 ft heigh and will have a 8" gap underneath.

The idea is that the sun heats it in the day and as the 'wall' gives off heat in the evening the trees benefit with extended warmth. Also it will be a wind break for that corner of the plot although the trees will be in front for the prevailing wind.

Sweetcorn and later runner beans create shade and wind breaks, generally when the wind is less of a problem though. My Raspberries and goseberries are in rows on the side of the prevailing wind so once into leaf the create a little bit of a wind break.