By Shane Wade
Welcome to Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation's Blog, The Happy Horticulturist, where we share the latest news, updates, tips, hacks, and trends on gardening, lawn care, horticulture, irrigation systems, Wade in the Water services & products, timely recommendations and reminders from our experts, recent industry advancements, research, and studies, and much more as it all relates to our valued clients and readers in our Metro-Jackson, Mississippi service area.
Today, we have some important news to share with you: the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has released a new version of its Plant Hardiness Zone Map, and it affects our region.
Read on to learn more!
What is the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map?
The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map is a standard green industry tool that provides gardeners with up-to-date climate change and plant suitability data, aiding growers in the informed selection of the most suitable plants for inclusion in landscape designs and outdoor space project plans specific to their region or location.
"As a gardener and landscape horticulturist, I utilize the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map as a valuable design project resource to help ensure that I accurately advise my clients on the perfect plants that are most-likely-to-thrive in their specific location."
- Shane Wade, Certified Landscape Horticulturist, Gardener, Tree Surgeon
The USDA advises that the recently-released (late 2023) zone map is based on
30-year averages of the lowest annual winter temperatures measured at specific locations across the county to reflect changes in climate patterns and data.
The map divides the United States into 13 zones, based on the average annual minimum winter temperature. Each zone has a range of 10°F, and is further subdivided into 5°F increments.
It's been a decade since the last zone map update in 2012. The recently-released 2023 edition incorporates data from 13,412 weather stations, which is almost double the number of stations (7,983) that contributed to the 2012 map.
Why is the New Map Important?
The map is handy for horticulturists to have in his or her tool box, because it not only helps gardeners get it right more often when it comes to plant survival and performance prediction, but it also helps us create landscapes that increase the value of our clients' properties, as a well-maintained lawn or garden always instantly improves the curb appeal and attractiveness of a home.
RESOURCE: "KNOW BEFORE YOU GROW!"
HERE'S THE NEWLY RELEASED PLANT HARDINESS ZONE MAP UPDATE:
The detailed zone data of a specific area gives landscapers a leg-up in choosing plants with a high probability of survival, and that are most-likely to thrive in that specific zone's environment. The map also helps avoid plants that are not suited or too tender or too hardy for a zone, which can result in poor growth, damage, or death.
How Does the New Map Affect Mississippi?
For those of us here in central Mississippi, including Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation's clients in and around Metro-Jackson, Mississippi and its surrounding areas, WELCOME TO ZONE 8b!
Most Mississippi Gardeners Get New Growing Zones for Plants, Trees, and Shrubs!
This latest map update, shows that a significant portion of Mississippi has shifted from zone 8a to zone 8b, meaning that our average annual minimum winter temperature has increased from 10 to 15 degrees F to 15 to 20 degrees F.
"This might mean that we could possibly grow a wider range of plants that can tolerate warmer winters, but we might also need to be a little more careful in selecting plants that can handle our hot and humid summers."
- Shane Wade, Certified Landscape Horticulturist, Gardener, Tree Surgeon
Zone 7b, which used to encompass most of the northern counties, now only covers a few counties in the northeast corner. This zone has the coldest winters in the state, with temperatures sometimes falling below 10°F.
Zone 9a, which used to cover only a small area along the Gulf Coast, now includes the entire coastal region and two counties inland. This zone has the mildest winters in the state, with temperatures rarely dropping below 20°F.
Zone 8b, which was previously a narrow band along the southern border of the state, now covers almost half of Mississippi, from the eastern to the western edge. This zone has moderate winters, with temperatures ranging from 15 to 20°F.
Zone 8a, which was once the central part of the state, now forms a U-shaped area that curves from the northwest to the northeast corner. This zone has slightly cooler winters, with temperatures between 10 and 15°F.
On a nation-wide level, the USDA reports that the new map data reflects a warming trend of about 0–5 degrees in half of the country over the last decade.
What Does This Mean for Your landscape?
The hardiness zone map is a handy tool for a horticulturist to keep in his tool box, as it indicates the temperature extremes that plants can tolerate, and a takes some of the guesswork out of gardening. We use it to avoid planting species that are not suited for the climate and soil conditions in our area, and instead choose disease and pest resistant plants that will promote our healthy, well-maintained garden goals.
And, as is common knowledge among lawn lovers and garden gurus,
a well-maintained garden boosts curb appeal and adds to the overall attractiveness of a home, resulting in increased property value.
While the changes highlighted above may not seem all that significant, they could have some slight implications for our plant choices and care practices here in zone 8b.
Some plants that were borderline hardy in zone 8a may now be more reliable in zone 8b, while some plants that were comfortable in zone 8a may now need more protection or mulching in zone 8b.
Experimentation with some new plants that are suited for zone 8b or even zone 9a, depending on the microclimate and site conditions, should give us more insight and answers into how these change will effect our zone going forward.
I encourage all of my fellow green thumbs to do their own experiments and share the results with us over in our new forum, The Shrub Hub!
The map is a practical and reliable resource for gardening success that helps me and my team at Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation to cultivate happy clients who hopefully can't help falling in love with their new, beautiful, healthy, and sustainable outdoor space!
We're Here Help with Choosing Plants for Your Yard
Don't worry, you don't have to be an expert plant zone map reader to reach your garden goals and outdoor oasis dreams. The Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation Team is here to assist you with any landscape, irrigation, or lawn care needs you may have.
"The new USDA zone map is a valuable resource for gardeners and landscapers in Mississippi. It gives us a more accurate picture of the climate conditions we face and the plants we can grow successfully. However, it's important to remember that the map is not the only factor that must be considered related to plant performance. There are many other factors that affect plant performance, such as soil quality, drainage, irrigation, pests, diseases and maintenance. That's why we always recommend consulting with a professional landscape horticulturist before making any major changes to your landscape. We can help you select the best plants for your site and budget, as well as provide you with expert installation and care services."
- Shane Wade, Certified Landscape Horticulturist, Gardener, Tree Surgeon
Utilizing the updated map tool discussed in this blog post, along with many others, and, in tandem with our team's experience and knowledge, we'll advise you on the best plants to incorporate in your landscape design based on your location, soil type, sun exposure, water needs, personal preferences, and other key landscape design factors.
No matter how big or small the size of your project, property, or budget, the pros at Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation will expertly design, install, and maintain a healthy, sustainable, and beautiful outdoor oasis for you and your family to enjoy for years to come.
Check Out the New Map
If you are interested in getting your garden gloves on the new map, visit the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map website at the link in the resources list below. There you'll find an interactive-GIS map that allows you to zoom in to your location and see your zone. You can also enter your zip code in the "Quick Zip Code Search Box" to find your zone quickly.
Additionally, I encourage you to download national, regional, and/or state maps (available in various resolutions) from the same website or from other sources such as The Old Farmer's Almanac, The United States National Arboretum, or The Spruce. via the resource links below.:
RESOURCE LIST
WADE IN THE WATER LANDSCAPE & IRRIGATION
USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map Website
The Old Farmer's Almanac
Leave Us A Comment
We would love to hear your thoughts and feedback on the updated USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, or about any other landscape, lawn care, or irrigation system topic!
We invite you to leave your questions or comments in the comments section at the end of this post. LEAVE A COMMENT
Contact Us Today for Assistance With Any Landscape, Irrigation, or Lawn Care Need
We invite you to CONTACT US at Wade in the Water Landscape & Irrigation to schedule an ON-SITE ESTIMATE APPOINTMENT. We can help you design, install, and maintain a beautiful and sustainable garden that suits your style, budget, and zone. We have the expertise, experience, and equipment to handle any project, big or small.
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Thank you for reading our blog, and stay tuned for more tips and news coming soon from The Happy Horticulturist!
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