Are the growing zones that assist gardeners changing since global warming?
Question:In lower Michigan there are so many Japanese Maple trees on the lawns, and that zone has close to the same climate as us up here in Northern Vermont yet our stores do not carry similare trees for planting.
Answers:
Interesting question! Although it's probably still anecdotal, I'd say the zones are changing. Where I live, we had an unusual and very severe frost in early spring. This had apparently not happened since mid century. Farmers and nurseries lost lots of plants and trees, and gardens in my neighborhood lost many of their ornamental plants. Horticultural advisors even suggested that people plant more cold-resistant plants.
Global warming has been less than one degree since hardiness zones were established.
USDA hardiness zones are a product of temperature records averaged over time and have become more precise in the last couple of decades because there is more information and more record keeping stations.
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