Wind dries soil, damages crops and blows away topsoil. A windbreak reduces all three.
How it works
A porous (not solid) barrier slows wind over a distance of roughly 10 to 20 times its height, which lowers evaporation, protects seedlings and reduces lodging.
Design
- Orient across the prevailing wind.
- Use two or three rows of mixed species with different heights, including drought-hardy, deep-rooted trees.
- Leave gaps for water and access, and plant before you need it, as trees take years.
- Keep tree roots from competing with crops by trenching along the line if needed.
Extra value
Windbreaks provide fuel wood, fodder, habitat for beneficial insects and shade for workers and livestock.
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