The benign rays of the winter sun help warm a cold house or seating area, while the dense growth of summer protects them. Deciduous plants are particularly useful for unprotected western or southern windows, or the sides or roofs of patios or ramadas. corymbosa) and Texas ebony (Ebanopsis ebano).Īnother strategy to manage the heat of a hot wall is to use deciduous trees or shrubs. Other large evergreen plants with ample heat tolerance to protect a hot wall include oleander (Nerium oleander), hopbush (Dodonaea viscosa), rosewood (Vauquelinia californica and V. Citrus can also be positioned directly adjacent to the wall and kept either formally espaliered or pruned to grow to a one-sided plant. If planted at a distance from the wall, give it 12 to 15 feet clearance. Citrus is evergreen, and naturally grows in a dense, more or less spherical shape. These plants require a space of up to 20 feet from the wall for best results, but are excellent protection against the western sun.Īll varieties of citrus have immense heat tolerance and thrive when grown against a western wall or window. praecox), mesquites (Prosopis sp.) and ironwood (Olneya tesota) and allow their limbs to sweep the ground.
If there is ample room, use desert trees like palo verdes (Parkinsonia florida, P. The thick array of leaves on such plants not only blocks the radiant heat of the sun’s rays, but absorbs them for its own photosynthetic needs. The solutions revolve around choosing plants that thrive in such a situation and planting them generously.Įvergreen plants, those that do not lose all their leaves at one time seasonally, are the first line of defense for a hot wall. So what to do? It is going to be hot in the summer, but there are a number of ways to cool down and mitigate the heat buildup on walls. In addition, pavement or pool decking collects and re-radiates heat and, in small yards, this combination can make the entire area uncomfortably hot. The heat of the sun’s rays is collected by walls, particularly those made of stone, and bounced back onto anything (plant, wall, building, person) nearby. This is a particular problem for vegetable gardens where the increased heat can mean the difference between plants lasting through the summer, and giving it up after a few weeks of growth. Plants growing in front of a south- or west- facing wall that are not well suited to the increased solar radiation and, therefore, suffer heat stress, sunburn, and short lives. All that heat significantly affects how hard an air conditioner must work to cool down the interior. The heat load on an unprotected south or western wall can increase the heat load on the building by up to 30 percent. The intense solar radiation of the low deserts causes more than just personal discomfort.
#Plants to cover wall install#
However, you can save yourself some time and buy a beautiful trellis that's ready for you to install and plant your flowering vines without breaking a sweat.Heat is a way of life in the gardens of the Southwestern deserts. Find a fitting design for your space in these 22 DIY Garden Trellis Projects for All Your Climbing Plants and Flowers.
#Plants to cover wall pro#
Pro tip: install the trellis when planting your seeds so you don't have to disturb the roots later in the growing cycle.Īre you feeling adventurous and want to try building a practical helper for your flowering vines? If so, pull out your handy toolbox to explore a few of our DIY projects. To get them started, just gently place their tiny, curling tendrils on the trellis, and they will do the rest of the work with natural ease. Frequently, this essential tool is forgotten when building a backyard fit for a green thumb adds function and a touch of style to your botanical spaces. And you'll want a trellis (which you can buy or build yourself), or an other structure for the vines to climb. Be aware of how much sun or shade your plant requires to thrive. When planting perennial vines, be patient: they take a few seasons to get established. They can be annual, or perennial, and there are vines for practically every USDA Hardiness Zone ( find yours here). Flowering vines add color and texture to overlooked parts of your garden and provide privacy and screening.