Advice
RHS Help & Advice
Wind scorch on evergreens
Gardens in exposed locations are often subjected to strong winds. This rapid air movement causes moisture to be lost from the foliage and the soil. Also, if the soil is too dry plants may not be able to replace moisture lost from leaves fast enough. The leaves will soon will become desiccated and scorched; this is especially true of evergreens.
Strong wind may also cause physical damage to plants and garden structures. Providing wind protection will slow the speed at which wind will pass a plant reducing the amount of water lost from the leaves.
Windbreaks can be erected using netting, proprietary windbreak materials, or woven hurdles. These filter the wind reducing its strength. A screen filtering 50-60% of the wind is ideal.
Plant shrubs in the lee of a garden hedge. Deciduous hedges filter the wind, but beware of dense evergreen hedges which may deflect the wind, causing some turbulence on the leeward side.
Mulch the soil around plants to reduce the drying effect of wind on the soil.
Place plants in pots against a sheltered house wall, but be careful to avoid a position where buildings create a wind tunnel.
Solid barriers such as garden walls and fences will deflect the wind over the top and may cause damaging turbulence only a short distance from the barrier.