Spring may still be a few months away, but dreaming of warmer temperatures may have you ready to get in your garden. Spend the next few months studying up on what plants will work best in your environment. Savvy gardeners keep one eye on the sky and the other on their plant beds. They give nature a nudge by understanding the climate, learning how to read the weather and then creating a landscape that fits. Parry Custom Homes, a premier Pittsburgh on your lot builder, shares information on how to grow the best garden possible this spring!
It’s good to know what the weather is doing, why it’s doing it and what it will do next. If you go with your climate and soil, your garden will be much more successful and if you choose the appropriate plants and tend to them well, you’ll save money because there’ll be fewer failures.
Learning how to read clues about upcoming weather can result in a more productive garden.
You can predict whether there will be a frost by noting the temperature and the rate it changes at dusk, can predict whether dew will form. Calculate the atmospheric humidity and you’ll know how likely it is to rain or snow. Watch the clouds for approaching weather fronts and gathering storms.
Soil and climate are closely linked. At the extremes, desert soils are sandy while tundra soils are low in nutrients because vegetation is so limited.
The more sand you have, the faster it will drain, so you might need to irrigate. Clay retains water and is very fertile because it stays wet it tends to be cold in spring, so you can’t work it or plant it early in the year.
Silt is very fertile. Loamy soil, which is best of all, has approximately equal parts of clay, sand and silt.
Then there are microclimates, which can vary depending on the size and shape of your property.
Lower terrain may have lower temperatures than higher terrain. Exposure to sun and wind can create a dry microclimate even in areas with adequate rainfall.
When you have a few days of unexpected 65-degree weather come February or March, people may think they can plant. But nature has a way of getting even and it’s best to stay with the tried and true. Things aren’t what they used to be, but nobody can be certain what the weather is moving toward.
Parry Custom Homes is an established homebuilder in the Pittsburgh area. Call or contact us today for more information about this floor plan option, or to view other homes in our portfolio that may suit your new home needs.