Ep 117 "Gardening in the Wind: Thriving Despite the Breeze"

Welcome to another episode of The Messed Up Gardener Podcast, your go-to mini masterclass for all things gardening! I’m your host, Esther Williams, and I’m absolutely buzzing to be here today.

This week, we’ve been dealing with some wild weather—rain, wind, and all the joys (and headaches) that come with it! While the rain is great for the orchard and helping the kiwifruit plump up, the wind has been a bit of a nightmare. But thanks to our shelterbelts, damage has been minimal. That got me thinking—how do you garden successfully in windy conditions?

In today’s episode, we’re tackling everything you need to know about gardening in the wind—from selecting wind-resistant plants to designing your garden layout for better protection. We’ll cover:
🌿 Why wind matters and how it affects plants and soil.
🌿 The best wind-resilient plants, including hardy shrubs, sturdy veggies, and trees with flexible branches.
🌿 Garden design tricks to work with the wind instead of against it, like windbreaks, sheltered zones, and strategic planting.
🌿 Practical protection methods, including staking, mulching, and DIY wind shields.
🌿 Long-term strategies to strengthen your garden over time, like deep-root watering and using living windbreaks.

Plus, I share an exciting update about a science experiment I developed for growing oyster mushrooms in a classroom setting! A local high school has officially signed on to run the experiment, and hubby and I are donating all the materials. Stay tuned for updates on how the students get on!

So if you’ve ever struggled with wind-damaged plants or found your mulch blowing away like tumbleweed, this episode is packed with practical tips to help your garden thrive—even in a wind tunnel!

Ready to take your garden to the next level, naturally? Grab your cup of tea (or compost bin!), get comfortable, and let’s dig in! 🌻

🎧 Listen Now & Subscribe!
If you enjoyed this episode, be sure to follow or subscribe so you never miss an episode. Got questions or a topic you'd love to hear about? Reach out—I love hearing from my fellow messy gardeners!

💬 Join the Conversation:
Share your thoughts, garden wins, or questions with me on @themessedupgardener or #esther.aitken on Instagram, TikTok or find me on Facebook Esther Williams

🌿 Share the Love!
If you know a gardening friend who would love this episode, send it their way! Let’s grow this community of passionate, down-to-earth gardeners together.

🎙 Until Next Time...
As always, gardening can happen in any place, in any space and on any budget! Have an incredibly abundant week—I’ll buzz you later! 🐝✨

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·      A Step by Step guide on how to create your own DIY self-watering planters

https://stan.store/EstherA/p/create-your-own-diy-self-watering-garden-planters

Don’t forget to grab one of my gardening freebees.   

Freebies: Grab the 

-         "12 Essential Tips for a Thriving Garden: From Planning to Harvest" Practical Tips to Help You Grow a Flourishing Garden 

-         https://stan.store/EstherA 

-         Organic gardening Cheat Sheet: Natural methods for chemical free cultivation https://stan.store/EstherA

-         Garden Goals Planning Worksheethttps://stan.store/EstherA/p/get-my-garden-goals-planning-worksheet-now

Gardening can happen in any space, in any place, and on any budget.