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Buffalo, New York

I have searched prior posts but decided to make a new one incase any new ideas have come to someones head.

My small patch 16'-25' is the home of 2 flag pattern plants at opposite corners.

I want to put up a wind barrier, but not sure what the best idea is.

My plants are only at the 5-7 leaf stage so they are still smaller.

Should i go buy 2"x2"s and drive them 1' into the ground and leave them 3 feet high and surround the whole patch with that thick black plastic stapled to them OR should i just surround the plants themselves and move them as the plant grows??

also, if i just surround the plant say in a 4'x4' box, will the small plants still get enough sunshine with the plastic being 3' high from the dirt?

6/9/2008 11:17:56 PM

Pocatello ([email protected])

A few thoughts from a "wind veteran"...

If your wind is like mine, one of three things will happen:

1. Your plastic will be torn to shreds
2. The 2x2s will be uprooted, even if they're in concrete
3. The 2x2s will broken like a maple bat swung by Barry Bonds

Seriously, I'd consider that orange fencing material that is common at construction sites, and heavy steel posts. This has holes, probably 50% holes. You'd think that this doesn't do much, but it really does. For me it holds back enough wind to bend a lighter duty steel post.

Something that blocks "some" wind and allows some air to pass through is better than an absolute block of the wind. With an absolute barrier, the wind just accelerates as it goes around the barrier.

One of the best approaches is to plant some good shrubs around the entire patch. But you might not have the space to do that.

Good luck!

6/9/2008 11:35:16 PM