Managing Mild And Moist Year-Round

Some areas have mild weather year-round, even though the changing seasons are also clearly defined. A genuine Shangri-La for perennial gardening, this moderate, marine climate has the following characteristics:

• Cool summers: Summers are cool and overcast, punctuated by an occasional spell of bright, sunlit days.
• Mild winters: Snow does fall, but not often enough to make a nuisance of itself. Killing frosts occasionally sneak down from the arctic, but even then, the temperatures rarely plummet below 0° F (–18° C).
• Moderate, steady rainfall: Rainfall is moderate and conveniently spaced throughout the seasons. Even so, periods of extended drought aren’t uncommon.

One advantage of living in an overcast climate is that you can safely use even the quietest pastel tones without fearing that the harsh sunlight will wash out the colors.

Sailing Along In Warm, Dry Maritime Climates

If a flower-gardening paradise exists, mild maritime climates approach it. Moderated by the ocean’s influence, these regions suffer no extremes of heat or cold to test a plant’s endurance. Much as in a greenhouse environment, cool and misty conditions prevail at all seasons. Frosts are infrequent in most maritime regions and almost unheard of in some. Even the occasional frosts aren’t of the killer arctic nature. The temperature rarely dips much below 30° F (–1° C). Summers are equally mild, dominated by foggy mornings and humid sea breezes. A few heat lovers don’t get adequate sunshine, but most perennials thrive in this benevolent climate — as long as they get enough water.

Ah, water — the one shortcoming in maritime regions. Water shortages and periodic rationing are increasingly common in all arid and semiarid regions around the world. The wise maritime gardener plans for water shortages by choosing from the large number of perennials that need little or no irrigation to prosper.

Shaping Steamy Subtropical Gardens

Subtropical regions experience mild, wet winters and hot, humid summers. Most hot and humid regions experience just enough cold to make growing truly tropical plants a risky proposition. Even gardens in the warmest parts of these areas routinely experience a hard freeze once every 15 or 20 years, sometimes with an occasional snowfall. Periods of very heavy rainfall alternate with prolonged dry spells in these regions, so plants must be able to contend with both extremes. Soil types range from nearly perfect, fertile, well-drained loam to sticky, heavy clay and pockets of pure sand, and from overly acidic to highly alkaline.

The subtropical garden’s riotous spring display also has few rivals. Camellias, dogwoods, magnolias, azaleas, and flowering vines all bloom together with reckless and colorful abandon. In general, the same perennials bloom earlier in the year and are shorter-lived when they are grown in warmer climates. Perennials also tend to be taller and less sturdy in the subtropical garden than their counterparts grown in cold-weather climates. Whenever one is available, choose a dwarf variety, because it’s less likely to flop over without staking. Frequent division — as often as once a year — helps many types maintain their vigor.

Scraping By In The Scorching Desert

Mild winters distinguish the warm deserts from the cold drylands.  ....read more