Joined: 2/19/2008
Posts: 72
|
An acquaintance of mine wanted to plant grapevines. He has a fairly large property and he was going to place them lower down the slope. I told him that the perfect spot would be more towards the top, kind of on the ridge. When spring frosts come the cold air will settle down in low spots. There are other variables as well:
1. Vines higher up will be affected less by a spring frost
2. Humidity in the air. If there have been recent rains, the humidity in the air will protect plants to some extent.
3. Duration of the frost: If frost starts already around 9:00 or 10:00 p.m. damage will be more severe vs. frost just in the early morning hours.
4. Presence of wind. Some wind will usher the cold air down, draining it from the higher spots while no wind allows the frost to settle in. Strong winds, however, will increase the drying effect.
5. Brick wall or large rocks will retain heat if day has been sunny and create a little micro climate.
6. If sap has started to flow. A plant can be very hardy, but once sap starts flowing or delicate new shoots have sprouted, frost damage can be severe. The sap, when that freezes, expands and breaks up the cells. Delicate new shoots of hardy evergreens also cannot take any frost.
Hope these pointers will help anyone having to decide where to plant something.
|