The US gardening card updated for the first time in a decade - which you can plant in your region
This could change your landscaping plans for spring.
When you Plan your landscaping , it is advantageous to know which plants tend to prosper in your region. To this end, many gardeners use the American Department of Agriculture (USDA) Map of the Rusticity Zone of Plants , a useful tool that traces the country's temperatures and demystify that perennial plants are likely to survive the best in each region. Last month, an update card was announced for the first time in a decade, which could dictate certain changes in your own garden. Read more to find out how it was updated and what to plant now.
In relation: 7 easy flowers for your garden that do not need sun .
The map of the USDA plant rusticity area has been updated.
The gardening card has been updated to reflect a change whose horticulturalists have long been aware. Due to climate change, about half of the regions are now warmer than they were before. Some regions - including the regions surrounding Arkansas, Kentucky, Missouri and Tennessee - have increased by five degrees on average.
In general, people may wish to adapt their landscaping plans to exclude plants that will not prosper in slightly warmer conditions.
However, the USDA too Reminds gardeners that despite the general trend towards warmer temperatures, any area "could live a year with a rare and extreme click that only lasts one day or two, and the plants that have prospered fortunately for several years could be lost. Gardeners must keep this in mind and understand that past weather recordings cannot provide a guaranteed forecast for future weather variations. "
In relation: Why you shouldn't trust the farmer's Almanac weather predictions .
There are 13 zones - Here is how to find yours.
The color code card has 13 regions, each determined by the average annual annual winter temperature. Zone 1 is the coldest, while zone 13 is the hottest. This is represented on the map of gradient color changes which illustrate how a region connects with the next. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
To find out in which rusticity area in which you are, simply go to the USDA site and enter your postal code.
You can search for planting supplies by zone.
Some stores facilitate the purchase of seeds, bulbs and plants by rusticity area. For example, Lowe's Has a practical sorting system to locate perennial plants that should thrive in your region.
The company suggests that people in zone 2, for example, are probably lucky with white peonies or a purple allium. Those in zone 3 may notice tulips, hyacinths and flourishing jaws. You can connect your own information to the area to receive suggestions specific to your region. You can also check the labels of the factory in stores and plant nurseries, as they will generally list the plant of the plant.
In relation: 7 plants that you can buy which are in fact dangerous invasive species .
Other factors can determine which plants will prosper.
As the USDA points out, there are several ways of which your own garden can differ from what is represented on the map. Although the most recent publishing is taken in "the most detailed scale to date" - half a square mile - they note that certain areas can have too small microclimates to be represented on the map.
"Gardeners should recognize that many other environmental factors, in addition to rusticity areas, contribute to the success or failure of plants," explains the agricultural authority. "Wind, type of soil, soil humidity, humidity, pollution, snow and winter sun can considerably affect the survival of plants. The hot season of heat and balance of Humidity is particularly important in this regard. The way plants are placed in the landscape, how they are planted and their size and health can also influence their survival. "
If in doubt, consulting local horticultural experts and practicing tests and errors are your best bet. "No card in the rusticity zone can replace the detailed knowledge that gardeners learn about their own gardens thanks to a practical experience," explains the USDA.
For more gardening advice sent directly to your reception box, Register for our daily newsletter .