[Home] [Back] [Index] Tweed Richmond Organic Growers Association

TROPO's Organic Info Library


Multi-purpose windbreaks for organic farms

[Diagram of prevailing wind directions]

Well designed windbreaks offer many advantages in addition to their obvious function of protecting crops from physical damage by strong winds which may come from any direction on the NSW North Coast.

Of particular interest to organic farmers is the opportunity to select windbreak species which help develop a natural balance of insect pests and predators on their property.

Listed on the next page are some species, mostly Australian natives, recommended by TAFE organic farming expert Dave Forrest as particularly good for windbreaks on North Coast farms and at the same time providers of pollen and/or nectar for beneficial birds and insects. The trees are very attractive to parasitic wasps and also provide good bee forage.

By selecting a mix of species you can ensure that beneficial insects survive year-round, including the months when their normal prey of pests is absent. Then they switch to eating tree nectar. Also, the fact that a population of insect predators and parasites is always close to your crops means that fast-multiplying pests can't suddenly build up their numbers unhindered when spraying and other control measures are stopped.

The drawback is that many of the trees listed below can also host insects that you don't want, like fruit-spotting bugs and macadamia nut borers. But you will have pests fly in anyway and with the trees you make certain of having their natural enemies on hand to reduce their numbers.

The only trees that are not possible hosts for destructive insects are pines from other countries. However, foreign pines have many other negatives which means that organic growers don't usually recommend them for windbreaks.

Additional benefits from windbreaks include:

  • better crop growth due to protection from extremes of heat and cold and reduced moisture loss
  • protection from windborne dust and/or salt
  • protection from pesticide drift or other contaminants
  • protection from wind-drifted bacteria such as spores of bacterial spot and brown spot
  • better pollination and better fruit set as bees or other pollinating insects are not hampered by strong winds more marketable fruit with reduction of skin blemishes and abrasions
  • reduced fire hazard (provided windbreak species are selected with this function in mind -windbreaks of readily flammable species would increase fire hazard)
  • possible source of mulch when windbreaks are trimmed or when temporary internal windbreaks are removed

Many other species in addition to those listed can be chosen for windbreaks to suit specific properties and individual production Systems.

Editor's Note: TAKE CARE when selecting species to plant! Please be aware that plants regarded as beneficial in one area can become seriously invasive in another area. Plants suggested by agriculture experts in one region, for their own region, may be quite unsuitable or even illegal in another part of the country. Please CONSULT YOUR LOCAL AUTHORITIES for appropriate information!

Other factors to consider when selecting windbreakspecies:

  • Rate of growth (eg fast-growing species are usually needed for new windbreaks, but slower species might be interplanted as "draft stoppers" to occupy space that opens up under tall trees)
  • Length of life (eg short-lived species are usually only appropriate for temporary windbreaks)
  • Suitability to the specific soil conditions and micro-climate of the site
  • Resistance to disease, frost (especially when young), Fire, drought, etc
  • Height, spread, rooting habit and density of mature trees (ideally a multi-row windbreak should provide good shelter without encroaching too much on valuable cropping area or blocking sunlight on North side)
  • Suitability for hedging or coppicing if required to control size and/or provide mulch and/or firewood
  • Possible production of additional crops as a sideline or for home use, eg seeds, bush tucker, supplementary feed for stock, etc.
  • Possible integration into the whole-farm ecosystem and provision of wildlife habitat and corridors.



Readers' Comments

[No comments yet]


If you have some relevant experience, please send us your comments to be added to this page.


What is TROPO | TROPO Home Page | TROPO Info Library
Copyright and cautions