Many gardeners live in areas where almost anything can grow effortlessly. All they have to do is just plant the seeds and water them for a few weeks and they get beautifully lush plants. But, if you live in an area where it is not so easy to grow things in your garden, you’ll understand what its like to have a slim selection of plants that grow naturally.

It can be quite a challenge to facilitate the growth of a large variety of plants, especially when the very world you live in seems to be “rooting” against you. Some people solve this problem by loading up their plants with every type of chemical and fertilizer known to man. This often works, but to me it seems kind of unnatural to rely on man made materials, to keep your plants alive. Also, if I’m growing fruit or vegetables, I don’t feel very comfortable eating something that is mostly composed of chemicals.

A gardening theory that I have relied on in the past, to grow many types of plants, is that of creating a “microclimate” for each type of plant. This is when you regulate the sunlight, shade, moisture, and wind factors for each separate type of plant.

It sounds like a challenge, and it is. But you can regulate these factors in such a way that the plant feels just like it is in the ideal growing conditions. This can be achieved by the use of wind barriers, shading umbrellas, extra water, or different types or amounts of compost.

If you’re ready to make an attempt at creating microclimates, you’ll need to make a detailed plan in advanced. You should start by finding a large shade providing bush or tree that will grow fast and naturally in your area. Just look at some undeveloped plots of land and see what is there.

Most likely it grew on its own without any planting or care. This is what you want to happen. Usually the growing of one plant can bring about the growing of another more desirable plant.

If you have a high fence, wall or hedge in your backyard and you would be surprised at how many people don’t, then you already have a good amount of shade to work with. You can start the microclimate process, using just the shade of the fence, combined with maybe a screen or large bush, to shade your new plant for the other half of the day, that the fence doesn’t take care of. The fence is also useful for screening any wind, for very fragile plants.

Once you have established the shade, be it natural or unnatural, you have created a slightly less harsh, miniature environment. You must remember that this is a gradual process and you need to find a new plant, to put in the shade of the other one. Now your choices are a little more open. You don’t have to go with a rugged plant, like the one you did before.  You can now choose a plant that survives better in cooler weather.

If the plant you are trying to grow next, requires more moisture in the air, than your area provides, installing a fountain or small pond can fix this problem, due to the evaporation factor. You may think you don’t want to waste water on a pond or fountain, but it’s all going toward the betterment of your garden. It’s just like the watering process, only in an indirect way. As an added benefit, fountains are usually quite aesthetically pleasing and a great addition to your garden.

I can’t explain every stage of the process, because everyone’s goals and problems are slightly different, but to reach your goal, you should do research on every plant that you would like to have in your garden.

Find out everything you can about the area that it flourishes best in and ask yourself how you can emulate that area, within your own backyard. Most times, you will find that with a little imagination and effort, you can take control of the environment and recreate whatever you wish. It will take some planning, so think it over and plan it on paper, before trying it in the garden.

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Sally Robson is a South African Internet marketer, who together with her husband Derek, have a vision of empowering all fellow South Africans and other non U.S folk, to have equal opportunity and success on the internet, by overcoming the many obstacles facing them. They have started a string of sites, resources, courses and articles, as part of Dersalsites. Sally has a passion for gardening. For more articles and advice on gardening topics, visit Sally at: http://www.dersalsites.com/sallysgardeningtips/

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