"Wind Gardening"

As a novice container gardener I need help on what might be a pretty dumb question. I'm on a lakefront in North Central Minnesota where most of the land that is protected from wind, by the house, is partial shade to shade. The shoreline side gets summer sun from about 10 am to dusk (and container gardening solves the problem of very sandy shoreline soil) but there is always a breeze (sometimes a very strong one) on the shoreline side so I am wondering if there are any colorful, flowering plants (and also herbs or vegetables) that would do well under these windy conditions. I'm really not finding much advice at the seed house sites on wind tolerance. Thanks for any help you can give. Michael

You might try doing some searching for plants that do well in coastal conditions--you won't have the salt spray obviously but wind is the other big challenge that people in coastal locations run into. Some of the plants that do well there may not be hardy for you since most of the coastal climates are warmer zones than you, but I'm sure there'll be a few that are hardy. The other thing you might do is see if you can plant a windbreak, find some tall shrubs that do hold up well in the wind and plant those in the direction of the wind, then behind the windbreak you can plant almost anything you want since the wind won't be as much of a problem anymore.

There is a general rule about plants being tolerant to wind, and even like it.
These are plants with tiny, tough, leaves like lavender, Rosmarin, thym, curry etc. These are also sun lovers.
Also plants that grow low to the soil, like one can observe in nature in windswept places.
Plants with big leaves, can easily been torn by strong winds.
I'm sure there will come more suggestions from the other DG's that have more experience with this specific situation.

maybe sedums would be sturdy and resist drying out, I think getting dried out would be another challenge to those pots. I think that would be rough on most vegetables.

I think Sallyg had a good idea, I'm sure sedums would do very well.
They are very tolerant to wind and drying out, that's why people even plant them on top of their roofs.

correct me if I'm wrong, aren't wooly'-leaved plants also resistant to drought? I'm thinking of my lamb's ear. Unfortunately, I am not thinking of much with wooly foliage with a good flower.
How about coneflowers and blackeyed susans? sturdy stems, with foliage fairly low to ground.

Tnak you to all who have replied with great suggestions and i hope more keep coming. Like i said, I'm a novice gardener so I've actually never heard of any of these flowering plants. Two things I should clarify for any future replies: I'm hoping to start any planting I do from seeds and also, only in containers. I'm not too worried about watering two or even three times a day because I'm generally available to do it and if not, because of the containers, I can move them out of the wind for a day or so. Again, thank you all for your help and (greedy pig that I am) I'm hoping to get even more. I'd love to have two dozen containers with a half dozen flowering species by mid-summer. I just might if I keep getting these good suggestions.

if really want to start from seeds you gotta get them started soon!

Hi, hope you have a lot of patience if you want everything from seeds, I would sugest for a wind break hedge, Escallonia, it has lovely shinny leaves, comes in various flower colour, AND, does very well close to seaside and wind,as does most things with shiney leaves with the exception of tender shrubs, Escallonia only need pruned once a year to the hight you require, also try some ornamental grasses, they would be perfect as you can now get tall ones with colourful sead heads which sway in the wind and you can still see through them, they also look good in the winter if frosted, Geraniums are great in pots as are Hydrangias, several colours, Hebe is good colour flower and leaf, Try Nepeta (CatmintI it dies down in winter but soon forms big clumps come spring, it smells good too when you brush past it, also the other plants mentioned by the others, all you need to do is go to the local librery and look for Seaside Gardening books, you will be amaized at how many plants you can grow, don't need watered every day but I don't think you can grow everything in pots, you will require some form of structure just to stop everything being washed eithing into your outdoor area or your pots, I dont think you realise how much and how quick pots will dry out in your conditions, it is not just the sun that dries things, you have the reflction from the water, the wind and the sun to cope with, pots being knocked over and wild life, either you are going to live outside 24/7, or you need to change your rose tinted glasses, you could waste a lot of time and money if you dont do any proper research, pots alone are expensive if they end up in a lake or blown to kingdom come and shattered, I think you have such a blank canvas to work from you should be able to do anything you fancy so long as you learn what needs done properly.
Happy gardening.

Actually, pots do pretty well in the wind. Where I live, we don't have a choice, the ground is literally coral, so everyone plants in pots. We have a windy season and a wet season. That's it. And our winds can get ferocious. I have a very large selection of tropical plants that I can move together when we know we are getting a big blow, and the rest of the time the pots are against fences or walls, sometimes clumped together....they do very well. The most important thing though, as far as WIND goes, is to make sure that you have the proper size container for the plant.. Anything top heavy will go over in a flash. Have fun!

WeeNel
Thanks so much for taking the time to write out so many helpful points and you've given me many things to think about. I am definitely going to give some of the plants you mentioned a try and a windbreaking hedge is a great idea for the sideyeard bed.

Island Sheri
Glad to hear your containers survive in the wind and i doubt the wind we get here (except for the very rare straightline off the lake) is as severe as what you have so thanks for the encouragement on containers because they really are what I like to garden with best. But you didn't mention any of the plants you have in yours that are reasonably wind tolerant. Can y ou give me some clues - especially on flowering plants.

Michealangelo, It would be unfair of me to give you the impression that what I grow in pots will do well in your climate. I am in the tropics....there is no way that MN could ever be considered tropical. But....what I have found is that plants with smaller leaves over wider areas seem to do better. I thought this was ludicrous at first, but it has proven to be true. My hibiscus, pikake and Ixora thrive, while my reiger begonias died quickly - probably more due to the rain than wind though. I have a sage hedge windbreak that helps. Now the desert roses - Adenium Obesum, do very well. Thick trunk and smallish (comparitively) leaves and flowers. Naturally, all palms do well here. But there again look at the leaves - the wind goes through. All my Elephant Ears, and Philodendrons do okay - but they are in the most protected parts of my yard. Those big leaves would act just like a sail, if they were left in the open areas. Put please, keep in mind my climate versus yours. I have very high humidity, and 100+ inches of rain a year....containers are great, and you can really stretch your zones when using them, but I would still take a few long walks and see what grows well in your surrounding area. That will give you your best start, then when you have some growth and protection in your garden you can experiment with other lovelies. Good Luck! Have fun!

Hi Michaelangelo, I live in the Pacific Northwest on the coast and we get terrific 'Pineapple Express' galeforce winds. I grow everything I can find in the way of flowering plants and as long as they are healthy, well fed and well watered I have not lost a plant yet to wind.

Have attached a picture of a fritillaria and euphorbia that lived through several 'Pineapple Express' gales one winter and, as you see, lived to tell the tale -- at least to each other, the don't talk to me!

Good morning; Certainly they are talking to you. They are displaying their beauty to say "thank you for your care.". :)

They are beautiful Phil ! But I gotta ask - why "pineapple express"??

Hi Islandshari, these gales, which come out of the southwest are called a "Pineapple Express" because they bring with them warm, moist air from off the Pacific Ocean. The warm temperatures in the midst of winter make us think we can thank all the beautiful Pacific islands that grow pineapples for them. On the other side of the Rockey Mountains these same warm winds are called Chinook winds. Why, I don't know. We don't get much snow on our side of the mountains but they sure do on the east side of them. When a Chinook comes through, the snow, as one man who lives near Calgary told me, can disappear like butter on hot toast.

Very interesting. Thanks for the info. If your winds really do come from out my way, I will try to make them pleasant breezes and not malicious gales. Happy gardening!

you also might try talking to some south texas gardeners. the wind is usually se15-30 or north 15-40 during cold fronts.