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THE SHELTERBELT OR WINDBREAK
Everybody, nowadays, is familiar with the effects of wind on temperature. The wind chill factor is a commonplace topic in winter weather reports. Plants, animals, and even your home suffer from the affects of windchill just as you do. If you reduce the wind velocity, you reduce the affect it has on temperature. This reduction is accomplished by windbreaks, shelterbelts and fences.Windbreaks and shelterbelts, by reducing the wind velocity, encourage the deposition of snow to the windward side of the strip, and reduce the deposition of snow on the leeward side. They also provide other benefits. The evaporation of soil moisture is reduced, crop yields increased, and pollination is increased. Pollination relies on the insects and bees do not fly when winds are high. This is important in areas like Beaverlodge, Alberta where statistics show that the wind blows 85% of the time. Even your home benefits from a windbreak. With reduced wind velocity, heat loss is reduced and therefore the cost of heating is reduced. Birds and animals find shelter and food in the trees and shrubs of the windbreak.
When clearing land, even an acreage, always attempt to leave a natural windbreak of trees to the north and west of home and garden. If none exists, plan for one. If the property is too small, or while waiting for a new windbreak to become an effective size, consider the use of open type fences, such as picket, woven, or snow fences. Do not use solid fences as these do not reduce the wind velocity but can actually increase it. Remember that it takes at least 10 years for a newly planted windbreak or shelterbelt to have any affect.
There are many publications available through the different Provincial Department of Agricultures on windbreaks and shelterbelts. Generally, they suggest that the main shelterbelt should be 6 rows deep. The windward row should be fast growing shrubs, then a row of ornamental trees, a row of long-lived deciduous trees, a row of fast growing deciduous trees and lastly, two rows of long lived conifers. Intermediate shelterbelts can consist of from 1 row of fast growing shrubs to up to 3 rows with fast growing shrubs, fast growing deciduous trees and long lived conifers.
Some of the trees and shrubs recommended for shelterbelts are: poplar, willow, maple, elm, ash, spruce, pine, larch, caragana, lilac, honeysuckle, hawthorn, chokecherry and dogwood. This material is used along with ornamental trees hardy for your zone.
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This page by Pat
updated August 18, 2000
