The climate and weather of a location will have

When considering what any particular climate will support horticulturally you can do no better than to look and see what is supported naturally and in agriculture, in rural and suburban situations, and, of course, what is growing in other gardens. The main climatic factors which influence plant growth in an area are its altitude and the intensity and length of its winters. An area's horticultural possibilities can also be greatly affected by wind. Wind off the sea, for example, will be salt-laden in diminishing amounts up to five miles from the coast. The range of plants which can stand its full blast is quite small.

Climatic conditions can also vary enormously from garden to garden. The presence of surrounding buildings, or trees, or a combination of the two, might inhibit the number of sunlight hours that the garden receives. In summer, when the sun rides high over obstacles there will probably be more than enough light even if bright sunshine is limited to only part of the day. But in the winter, when the sun is lower in the sky, direct sunlight might not reach the garden for months on end.

Trees and buildings can funnel prevailing winds and cause considerable damage, although open fences or hedges can be sited to counter the force of the wind by filtering away its strength. A solid barrier, like a wall (which in other circumstances can do so much to promote plant growth by retaining the sun's heat) simply increases wind turbulence and is inappropriate as a wind break.

Homes and garden which are comparatively close to one another, but one on a hill top and one in a valley bottom, will experience considerable differences in temperature in both winter (due to frost) and summer (due to wind). Frost is an important factor to consider on a local basis. You must remember that cold air flows downhill like water. If your garden happens to be in the way, any solid barrier will trap the cold. It is possible to deflect the flow of cold air with well-thought planting, though. Gardens in valleys, or otherwise below hills, are likely to be in frost pockets, causing their micro-climates to be surprisingly cold. Frost will remain in a frost pocket until dispersed by wind or sun. Such a situation may be lethal to spring-flowering fruit trees.