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I write this mainly in response to Jenny's post asking for advice on providing shelter for a garden.
I imagine that Shetland is one of the most exposed sites you will find so I have tried to tailor my advice with that in mind although the general principles apply to any garden. I am also guessing that this is compounded by being on or near the coast so you may suffer from salt spray and sand blasting!
My suggestion is to create a hedge or shelterbelt of resilient shrubs or trees. Part of this comes from the inspiration of Osgood McKenzie who founded the Inverewe Tropical Gardens near Ullapool.
I guess early spring would be the best time for planting as the plants only have to survive a short time before the onset of warmer days. If using shrubs try and get them at about 18" to 2' as they are less likely to be uprooted by the wind.
My seaside hedge would grow to about 8' or more and form a dense barrier to ground level. This acts as a buffer and filter for the worst effects of the wind and salt. I would include the following:
Escallonias - best on western coasts which dont get the same frosts as the east, dense green foliage with red and pink flowers.
Sea Buckthorn - Spiny shrub which is often found growing wild on dunes. Both wind ansd salt resistant, producing orange berries on the female plants.
Olearias - Very tough plants that can withstand lots of cold weather. Evergreen they afford year long protection and produce white flowers at the end of the summer.
Tamarisk - Stands well to salt and sand blasting, has feathery type branches and is easy to propogate from cutings.
Bamboo - I am going to throw this in because new hardy types are being developed all the time...why not bring a touch of the tropics to Shetland?
If something a little bigger than shrubs is sought these trees offer year round protection:
Monterey Cyprus - Dense bright green foliage which reduces wind very well and is also salt tolerant. Crush leaves between fingers to release a lemon smell.
Monterey Pine - Is used to shelter the salt ridden gales sweping in off the Pacific.
Holm Oak - Evergreen and can tolerate saltspray. I believe this was used to shelter the Liverpool University Botanic Gardens.
White Poplar - deciduous and rapid growing, forms suckers which grow between the trees to form a dense shelterbelt which can withstand sea winds and cold temperatures. This will grow to about 40' but you can cut back if necessary.
If you plant these close together you could also try, ash, beech, silver birch, willows, cornish elm or wych elm.
I hope this has given you a starting point...good luck!
I imagine that Shetland is one of the most exposed sites you will find so I have tried to tailor my advice with that in mind although the general principles apply to any garden. I am also guessing that this is compounded by being on or near the coast so you may suffer from salt spray and sand blasting!
My suggestion is to create a hedge or shelterbelt of resilient shrubs or trees. Part of this comes from the inspiration of Osgood McKenzie who founded the Inverewe Tropical Gardens near Ullapool.
I guess early spring would be the best time for planting as the plants only have to survive a short time before the onset of warmer days. If using shrubs try and get them at about 18" to 2' as they are less likely to be uprooted by the wind.
My seaside hedge would grow to about 8' or more and form a dense barrier to ground level. This acts as a buffer and filter for the worst effects of the wind and salt. I would include the following:
Escallonias - best on western coasts which dont get the same frosts as the east, dense green foliage with red and pink flowers.
Sea Buckthorn - Spiny shrub which is often found growing wild on dunes. Both wind ansd salt resistant, producing orange berries on the female plants.
Olearias - Very tough plants that can withstand lots of cold weather. Evergreen they afford year long protection and produce white flowers at the end of the summer.
Tamarisk - Stands well to salt and sand blasting, has feathery type branches and is easy to propogate from cutings.
Bamboo - I am going to throw this in because new hardy types are being developed all the time...why not bring a touch of the tropics to Shetland?
If something a little bigger than shrubs is sought these trees offer year round protection:
Monterey Cyprus - Dense bright green foliage which reduces wind very well and is also salt tolerant. Crush leaves between fingers to release a lemon smell.
Monterey Pine - Is used to shelter the salt ridden gales sweping in off the Pacific.
Holm Oak - Evergreen and can tolerate saltspray. I believe this was used to shelter the Liverpool University Botanic Gardens.
White Poplar - deciduous and rapid growing, forms suckers which grow between the trees to form a dense shelterbelt which can withstand sea winds and cold temperatures. This will grow to about 40' but you can cut back if necessary.
If you plant these close together you could also try, ash, beech, silver birch, willows, cornish elm or wych elm.
I hope this has given you a starting point...good luck!
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