The term can refer to areas as small as a few square feet (for example a garden bed) or as large as many square miles.
When we are talking about providing a microclimate for a house the things can do for are things like:
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- Providing shade trees to keep the summer sun out of the house, particularly on the west side where eaves don’t work as well. (see Photo)
- Overhanging eaves, and verandas to keep the walls dry. (Once brick walls get wet winter winds cause evaporation which chills the brickwork speeding the loss of heat through the wall)
- Providing shrubs and plants close to the walls to retain a layer of still air which slows heat loss in winter. The plants also help shade the walls in summer.
- Soft leaved plants that can help reduce summer heat due to evaporation from their leaves.
- Fences, bushes or trees to deflect or break up winter winds.
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Have you provided a microclimate around your house?
For More post about the garden and finishing off a house see Settling In