what is my gardening zone – what is my growing zone – How to assess your garden climate
What is my gardening zone
Understanding the environment, prevailing winds, temperatures, and microclimates in your garden area cannot be done in an afternoon. It should take you at least a year, but your time and patience will help you shape your design and choose your plants.
Your garden’s climatic conditions—and microclimates—not only determine which plants you can grow but will also influence your overall garden design. Sitting in the dampest, most rain-swept part of your
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the garden area is never going to be a good idea, so by discovering more about the specific weather patterns in your garden, you can make sure you create comfortable places to spend time in.
THE WATER TABLE
The natural level in the ground where water sits is known as the water table. If you dug a deep pit, there’s no doubt you’d eventually find it. However, for our purposes, the easiest way to understand the level of your water table is to be mindful of how plants behave. If your lawn stays bright green during a hot, dry summer, you probably have a high water table. If it wilts early in the season, this may indicate a low water table.
HOW TO ASSESS YOUR GARDEN’S CLIMATE?
1. MEASURE AIR TEMPERATURE
Some plants cope better with extremes than others, so variations in a garden’s air temperature will affect the range of plants you can grow. To measure these variations, you’ll need a thermometer that shows both minimum and maximum temperatures.
Place it (or the sensor, if you’re using a digital one remotely) outdoors out of the direct sun. You can take reading any time of day, but it’s best to be consistent to keep track of how temperatures change over a 24-hour period during each season. What are the hottest and coldest readings? Are these usual for the time of year?
2. DETECT PREVAILING WINDS
Wind direction affects the air temperature. When we get an east wind in Lincolnshire where I live, it is bitter. And when the wind blows mostly from one direction, it’s called the prevailing wind. Note down the direction of any prevailing winds, how exposed your garden is to them, and whether any buildings or structures funnel wind anywhere.
This information will have an impact on your design, as you may want to put up permeable screens and create cosy areas or grow plants that look lovely wafting in a breeze.
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3. GAUGE RAINFALL LEVELS
Rainfall can vary a lot from region to region, and understanding this will help you when it comes to planting and maintaining your garden. You can simply use a bucket to catch rain and a ruler to measure it, but a proper rain gauge (from most garden centres) is more accurate.
Whenever rain has fallen, check the gauge (or bucket) at the same time of day. Understanding the rainfall in your garden year on year will help inform your plant choices.
4. DISCOVER RAIN SHADOWS
An area that rain is deflected away from is called a rain shadow. Wind, structures, and plantings can all deflect rain. Some areas may remain dry despite rainfall; others catch rain running off a hard surface and stay damp longer. Look for rain shadows after a downpour when damp spots are visible.
Are there places in your garden with awkward spaces, buildings that deflect rain, or dense coverage (hedges, trees, or pergolas)?
By discovering more about your garden’s specific climate, you will be able to create comfortable places to spend time in.
HOW TO “READ” YOUR GARDEN
Ask yourself these questions to familiarize yourself with your garden’s unique microclimate.
WHERE IS THE SUN?
Areas facing south get more light and warmth; areas facing north get less. Q ARE THERE ANY THERMAL MASSES? Fences or brick walls facing south and west can trap and reflect heat, while north-facing walls offer cooler temperatures with less fluctuation.
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IS THE GARDEN WINDY?
The direction and force of the wind can damage plants and dry out the soil, so in very exposed areas, you might need to think about introducing permeable barriers to shelter you and your plants. Q DOES RAINWATER COLLECT OR DRAIN AWAY EASILY?
Wetter areas take longer to warm up, so be aware of how easily or not water drains away. Areas that drain too freely may be susceptible to drought.
IS THE LANDSCAPE HILLY?
Even beyond your walls, hills or hollows can affect rainfall, while dips can collect cold air to form frost pockets
How do I know my gardening zone?
You can determine your garden area in the United States. Department of Agriculture website. You can enter your postal code, or for more accuracy, use the interactive map to click within half a mile of your home.
RELATED QUESTIONS
What is the growth zone?
The Urban Growth Zone (UGZ) applies to land identified for future urban development. […] The region can also be applied to land adjacent to a regional town and village where a strategy has been developed that clearly identifies the land as suitable for future urban development.
What growing zone am I in UK?
Much of the United Kingdom is located in Zone 9 of the USDA, although the region is not as cold as 7 or milder than Zone 10. In general, the UK is characterized by mostly winter (but not frozen) winters and hot (but not scorching) summers. 4 May 2018
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What zone does jasmine grow in?
Most of the climbing mountain species with delicate, fragrant flowers grow best in the United States. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones The most winter-hardy species among 9 or 10 people, winter jasmine (Jasmine nudiflora), growing outside of USDA Region 6.
Where is zone 6 planting?
It extends north-west through Ohio, Kentucky, Kansas, and New Mexico and Arizona, and even though Utah and Nevada, and extends southwest. , Ending in the state of Washington. If you live in a 6 zone area, you probably don’t like the idea of such bottles because you are accustomed to hot or cold temperatures.
When should I plant my garden in Zone 6?
According to Sunset, planting of Zone 6 vegetables lasts from mid-March to mid-November. Either way, it’s important to remember that these are guidelines and that winter or summer maybe sooner or summer maybe sooner or later than usual.
What is Zone 6?
Zone 6 East is located in East Atlanta and includes Boulevard Heights, Cabbagetown, Candler Park, Druid Hills, East Atlanta, East Lake, Edgewood, Emery Village, Glenwood Park, Grant Park, Inman Park, Little Five Points, Old Pont, -Hiland, Sweet Auburn, Reynoldstown, Virginia Highland and …
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What is zone 8?
Region 8 is one of the 13 plant beauty zones in the United States. Like all zones, it is divided into two prefixes. These are regions 8A and 8B. Determining the region can help you choose plants that are suitable for the winter temperatures in your region.