Plant Hardiness Zones
What garden zone am I in? This information will tell you what plants are hardy in your area and therefore can be grown with assurance that they will have the best chance of surviving and even thriving in your local environment. By starting with your garden zone and then evaluating for the micro-climates in your yard, you can identify areas where individual plants will do better… you may even find a sunny spot against a south-facing wall where you can grow a plant variety that is normally rated for a warmer zone.
The USDA recently published its updated plant hardiness zone map in 2023, in which they incorporate improved accuracy and detail, along with recent warming trends. Many regions shifted a half zone or more from the 1990 and 2012 map, and even more from what I have come across in old gardening books from the 60’s and early 70’s.
Ohio Garden Zones and Micro-climates
Local and Micro-climates are important to watch, because even a small move can make a significant difference. As of 2023 the Plant Hardiness Zone Maps have been updated to reflect the shifting climate and weather conditions nationwide. Ohio overall is now in zones 6a and 6b, with a scarce few patches of zone 5b scattered throughout the state. Most of the north coast gets a “lake effect” warming benefit that now brings it up to zone 7a. This benefit extends up to around 8-10 miles south in some areas, though the local conditions are such that it is entirely possible for two adjacent neighborhoods to be in different garden zones.
By way of example, in my previous home my garden was rated solidly in zone 6b, with my garden in (naturally) the coldest and shadiest part of the yard (partly shaded by a row of arborvitaes to the south and pine and maple trees to the east and west). I also had a sunny spot close to the house and surrounded by a (heat holding) concrete driveway, which meant that I could sneak in a zone 7 plant (with fingers crossed and proper libations to all the weather gods).
My new house is about 6 miles west and is in a more wooded and wetlands filled area, as well as being further from Lake Erie (4 1/2 miles instead of 2 miles, as the crow flies). These differences put me right on the border of zones 7a and 6b. I will be watching my yard closely for micro-climate impacts from the nearby patch of woods and our 6 foot fence (shade for some areas, but white for light reflection and heat for other areas). I also will continually evaluate the impact based on regional development changes: when the 2012 zones were drawn up, this part of Ohio was minimally developed and heavily wooded. In the interim it has dramatically changed, with much new construction including shopping centers, residential developments, new roads… all of which are associated with trapping and retaining additional heat. Not enough for me to grow avocados and grapefruit in the backyard (darn!), but maybe enough, just maybe, to grow something rated for zone 7 without worrying about the occasional Arctic blast? I can dream…. (And yes, I know, All gardeners are in zone denial. Me included.).