The USDA recently released a new plant hardiness zone map. In fact, it's so new, printed versions are not yet for sale. Denver gardeners have already begun planning this years gardens. This new information is vital to their success. How do the new zones impact Denver gardeners? What was the reason for the change? What's so different about the new map?
First of all, let's talk about Denver. How do the new zones impact Mile High City gardeners? What I like about the new map is its accuracy. You can go to the map, put in your zip code and see exactly what zone you are in. You can also click on your state to find the exact plant hardiness zone for your region. This is a huge improvement over the old map, which gave a general zone for large areas, rather than pinpointing exact information.
Colorado is one of the states that varies greatly as far as plant hardiness zones. So much so, that one county could contain two or more different zones. That's why it's important for Denver area gardeners to check the map for their zone.
For instance, Aurora, a suburb of Denver, is in the same county as many of the small towns on the Colorado plains. Yet, they are not in the same plant hardiness zone. Aurora is in zone 5b, while a large number of the other towns are located in zone 4b.
The USDA developed the new map because our climate has undergone subtle changes since the old zones were established. Some states were impacted more than others. The old map, although accessible online, didn't provide the same precise information as the new one. That means, in some areas, gardeners may have been making judgments based on the wrong zone.
Keep in mind, there are multiple factors that determine the success of your Denver garden. Climate is just one factor, however vital that factor may be. Just because the zone map indicates your zone is good for growing corn, doesn't mean you will be. A good garden involves considering all factors (soil, water, sun, etc.) then making changes necessary for success.
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