USDA Hardiness Map- we are zone 6B!!

Very Important New Garden Info!

We have a new USDA Hardiness map! This is big news for gardeners. Why, you ask? Because gardeners base their plant choices on zone hardiness. (Oh, that magnolia is only hardy to zone 6b and I’m in zone 5b. It’ll never last the winter!)

Why are zones important?

It determines what plants we, the avid gardeners and professionals, can use and where.

Why did this map change? Global warming?

Actually, it’s not reflecting global climate change. The last revision was 1990. Since 1990, the amount of new information and technology available is staggering. The USDA is very adamant that this is a new set of data, with new parameters, that is more accurate than the “long term predictions” in the old map. Huh?   “The increase in our computing power today allows the research team to build into their algorithms things they knew were important factors in 1990, but couldn’t include,” said Catherine Woteki, Chief Scientist and Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics for the USDA.

Also, they've now taken into account how close an area might be to bodies of water, the slope and elevation of areas and other microclimates that occur. This may not sound like much- but it is staggering! We have suddenly been rated as Zone 6B. For the past 20 some years, we've been mostly rated as Zone 5B. That's a major temperature change. They've taken into accounts all the valleys (Clinton Lake, the hills of the Wakarusa Valley and other factors I'm sure). Follow this link to get to the new interactive site: USDA map. You can find the Kansas map here. If you enter your zip code, you will get to see close up all the little microclimate deviations within our state! I love this.

How will this change how you garden?

We still need to be cognizant that many/ most of our plant issues happen with exposure to wind (in Kansas) and freeze/ thaw issues. This will not even begin to address those issues. It just gives you the median lowest winter temperatures. So for me, while I will try to place my delicate, sensitive plants in protected areas, I will worry less about winter freeze temperatures. I think the thing that may kill those delicate Magnolia, cute Japanese Maple and the like are the rapid temperature fluctuations. These allow the plant to thaw out, come to life and begin to grow (the cambium begin to generate and grow). Then the temperature rapidly drops and freezes the new growth. I think this very mild winter will see more winterkill than normal for just that reason.

Galanthus or Snow Drop

Also, Punxsatwney Phil just saw his shadow. This incredibly decisive, fact-based predictor AND the predictions of the Farmer's Almanac confirm, for me, that we will be getting three big ice/ snow events this month and March. Whaddya think of that?

Lawrence Landscape and Midwest Custom Pools will be making an appearance at the Lawrence Home Show, Feb 10-12. It is being held at Crown Toyota this year! Leave a comment on our blog or on our Facebook page for free tickets. Include your name, email and any preferred way to contact you.  Good Luck!