The guide splits geographic areas into mapped zones by their annual minimum temperature extreme. There are thirteen zones total, and higher numbers indicate warmer regions while lower numbers indicate zones that may regularly experience temperatures well below freezing. Each zone can be further split into A and B, which indicate slight variances even within these zones. For the sake of outdoor gardeners and landscapers, plants have been split into a range of survivable zones.
Lush, coastal Seattle, Washington, and the inland desert city of Barstow, California, for example, are both considered hardiness zone 8 even though their weather and plants are much different. There are definitely some very, very windy sites that might cause tissue dieback. Wilber explained that your microclimate can also be influenced by how your property slopes and how much canopy cover your property has. She recalled a friend with a mountain property where the front yard is zone 9 and the back is 8b.
Sunset Western Garden Book developed a climate zone map with 24 different climate zones for the Western United States. Damage to plants from heat is more subtle and slow-burning than damage from cold, so the map is especially useful if you are looking to plan perennial plants in warm climates.
Chill hours, which measure how long the cold temperatures last, are also important for growing things like fruit. The traditional definition of a chill hour is any hour under 45 degrees Fahrenheit, though there are competing theories and models. Some apple tree varieties, for example, over 1, chill hours, while northern Florida only gets about hours. Wilber recommends contacting your local cooperative extension to find out the number of chill hours in your area.
Even with these alternate designations, most gardeners agree that you should observe the microclimates in your garden in order to grow most effectively. She recommended keeping a garden journal to record temperatures and monitor rainfall. Sam Schipani loves pollinators, fresh herbs, and learning how to live more sustainably in small spaces. How to make hummingbird food. Why geese are good guard animals. Each zone has a 10 degree differential, based on the average minimum temperature of the location, between the previous zone, or, in other words, zone 1s average minimum temperature is 10 degrees colder than zone 2s.
They then determine which plants grow best in which zone and recommend a hardiness zone for every plant. Does the above explanation still have you scratching your head? When we go to buy shoes, we all know that we have a shoe size, or a size of shoe that best fits our foot. The same is true with plants. They have a hardiness zone that fits them best. It is where that plant is comfortable and can grow the best.
But just like we can sometimes wear a range of sizes, like I can wear a 7. Planting a plant in its ideal hardiness zone is important. Just like you would never want to walk around in a shoe three sizes too small for you, a plant does not want to grow in a hardiness zone that is way outside of its comfort zone either.
It can be too hot or too cold for the plant, which can result in it failing to thrive, grow or can even cause the plant to die.
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