Hometownstations.com-WLIO- Lima, OH News Weather SportsUSDA plant zone changes impact NW Ohio

USDA plant zone changes impact NW Ohio

As a certified master gardener, Kay Studer tracks things like rainfall, temperature, and frost dates in an effort to improve the way she gardens.

She also checks the plant hardiness guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the guidelines have recently changed.

"I always wanted to be in zone six, and it looks like we're on zone 6 now.  So things that were grown in Cincinnati and Columbus and down along the Ohio River can now be grow here in Northwest Ohio," said Studer.

The USDA updated its plant hardiness zone map for the first time since 1990. The new zones reflect the average low temperature between 1976 and 2005. Before the update, Northwest Ohio was considered to be in zone five.  Now much of the state, including Lima, is in zone six. That means Northwest Ohio's average winter low isn't quite a low as previously thought. But that also means more perennials might be able to survive the Ohio winter.

"One of the plants they used to grow a lot and you would never see them bloom again is hydrangea," said Studer.  Studer says people can try to grow hydrangea again since they are a zone six plant.  

Employees at DeHaven Home and Garden Showplace use the map to determine which types of plants to stock.

"When we buy our plants, we want to make sure they're hardy, and they'll live through our winter season.  Plants are expensive, and you put a lot into getting them to grow, so you don't want the first winter to throw them out," said Jamie Hall, store manager.

Studer agrees and warns that temperatures can still dip lower than the averages on the map.  So, perennials could still die if there's a severe temperature drop.  Even so, Studer wants to try out some new zone six friendly plants.