A Gardeners Forum Forums General Discussion Landscape trials and triumphs Ok, what zone am I REALLY in??

I thought I was in zone 5-ish.. some places show 5a and 5b etc..

Well, I was just messing around on the Arbor Day Foundation website and put in my zip code and it says I am in zone 6!!!

Soooo.. now what? I mean, I don't suppose it matters a whole lot.. since it says I am warmer than what I thought.. but still.. how can there be that much of a difference?

I don't know waht to tell you---
Apparently in my profile I said I was in 6a. (I had to have found THAT somewhere)

on some charts i am 6B and then
in a few of the flower catalogs I am in zone 5
so when you get it figured out--you can tell me---
then we will both know---

LOL Well at least I am not the only one..

It's funny.. for as long as I have ever paid attention, I have always been a 5-ish.. now all of a sudden I am a 6. Very peculiar!

yea well 'they' change their mind about everything else, why not the zones ???

Bleh.. yeah.. it just seems so weird.. I don't ever remember seeing anything that said I was zone 6.. and now.. ta daaa.. lol

Bless you Bill, so much going on & yet you find timke to help us.

Thank You

Pinkhorseofcourse:
now I know where I found out that I am in zone 6A it was here. I used Bill's information & yes, it is right on the money--I always wait until the first week of May to plant anything out side. And everything works well.

Well I am not certain if I am 5a or 5b.. It is hard to tell by that map.

What is the coldest temperature you expect in the depth of the winter months.... Check that way to determine your zone. Also check the "last frost date" map to help you decide when to plant. In past years we have had -20'F. for weeks but this year we only got down into the upper 20s, so you have to learn how to judge your climate zone on a year to year basis sometimes. Also consider the "micro-climates" that can occur within your own yard.... the north side of your yard may be 5A but the rest may be 5B or even zone 6. The USDA zone map is only a guideline for the gardener.....
I hope that made some sense....

Hmm.. Thanks Bill!! It DID make sense. I just have to figure out what our lows were this winter.. I am not sure on that one. And I will check the last frost date map as you suggested. Thank you very much!!

Click on the city nearest to you, then scroll down the page to find your weather averages and history category...

Goodness!! There is alot of information on that page Bill!! Wow.. Um, I had to click Zanesville, which is an hour away.. but that is the closest to me..