Watching the snow slowly melt this winter is a great opportunity to "read" your yard or garden to learn about the local climate. Flagstaff's most successful gardeners take advantage of the local climate by identifying cool, warm, open, sheltered areas in their gardens and planting plants suited to that area.
People often ask me which plants are best for their garden and my answer is "it depends where you live". Direction, exposure to water, sun and wind are factors that contribute to a microclimate. When you look at your garden, ask yourself, "Is there a place where the snow stubbornly doesn't melt, even on sunny days?" "Is the area behind a large rock or other structure blocking the sun's reach?" "Does the wind affect these places?"
Because Flagstaff's climate varies, it's helpful to identify the limiting factors in your area. If late spring snow and early fall snow are the limiting factor, use south-facing sites where the first snow melts. North-facing areas and rear structures may be the last places the snow melts. In these areas it may be the most profitable place to grow native plants, because they are adapted to permanent snow cover. In the eastern part of the city, full exposure to the sun and wind can be a limiting factor, so providing windbreaks or choosing a sheltered spot in your garden may be your answer to successful plant growth.
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Flagstaff's Arboretum takes advantage of the natural and engineered microclimates of our gardens. Walter Richard House has a south facing stone enclosed garden with fireplace, perfect for plums and lilacs. The shady garden has deciduous trees which retain the shade under a canopy of pine trees. A water-conserving garden uses large, heat-retaining rocks to grow cacti and yuccas. A sun-loving pollinator garden thrives in bright sunlight, with plants providing nectar for bees and other pollinators, but nesting in trees to protect them from the wind.
By knowing your property's microclimate, visiting a nursery this season can help you determine which species will thrive in your garden.
And now, a word from Coconino Extension Manager Hattie Brown on the micro-climate around Flagstaff. The most obvious difference between the regions is the temperature. It can vary by more than 20 degrees. Paderville is one of the coldest regions due to the cold air coming off the peak. Cheshire is slightly warmer, but the mountain wind also influences it. It snows in the area a few weeks earlier than in the city. Other snowpacks include the area around Lake Mary and the slopes of the Mountaineers and Kachina.
On the other hand, the areas south of Mount Elden are blessed with some of the warmest temperatures in the region. However, snow can occur in late spring and early fall. Donny Park and Timberline can be very hot during the day but very cold at night.
Temperature is not the only factor affecting the local climate. Areas northeast of the city, such as Doney Park and Timberline, tend to experience drier air and faster soil drying. The university's maximum and high temperatures are close to those printed on the paper, but the heavy clay hinders the garden. Central and northern areas may have a decent top coat, but they also suffer from cold or hot zones. In the southeast of the city, gardeners need dry air, cabbage, small earth, and rock.
For more information, the Garden in Flagstaff website https://gardenflagstaff.org/ has excellent maps of temperature fluctuations in the climate section. Another helpful tip is to purchase a max/min thermometer and compare your website to the temperatures reported for your community.
Cara McGuire is the parks director at the Flagstaff Arboretum (www.tearb.org). The tree will reopen to the public on May 3, 2023.
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