These plants are perfect for a windy garden.
With the winds of Hurricane Sandy pounding the east coast of the U.S., plants are taking a beating too. High winds can uproot some plants, and even the ones that remain in the ground suffer severe stress. If you find your home is often in the path of high winds or hurricane conditions, there are some plants that can weather the storm.
Hardy shrubs and trees can help protect your garden from high winds. Dogwoods, bottlebrush, Monterey cypress, short and compact willows, bayberry, mountain ash and viburnum are all great options.
There are also wind-resistant plants like palms and crepe myrtles and sage, and lots of edible options like root crops, strawberries, bush beans, broccoli and blackberries.
Most grasses are good at bending with the wind and can also serve as a windbreaker.
When it comes to perennials, there are lots of options like daylilies, bergenias, asters, geraniums, California poppies, daisies and coreopsis.
Roses are also a good option, like Floribunda, Fair Bianca ‘Ausca’ and Anthony Meilland ‘Meitalbaz.’
Be sure to plant your windbreak on the right side of the garden, and reinforce with a wind barrier if necessary.