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At a lovely dinner held by a neighbor over the weekend, everyone in attendance was a gardener. When the conversation slowed I mentioned our new gardening zone. None of them were aware of the change.
There has been a lot going on in the world so it is understandable that the USDA's November 15, 2023 release of the new Hardiness Zone Map went under the radar. The map was created in partnership with the Oregon State University PRISM Climate Group.
The interactive map is available at https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Kenosha has changed from Zone 5b to Zone 6a, and much of SE Wisconsin has changed from Zone 5a to 5b.
The map was last revised in 2012, and the new 2023 map has more accurate data because the number of reporting weather stations has increased significantly in the intervening years.
If you live in Wisconsin and would like more information about local impact, Dr. Laura Jill, Dept. of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences, UW-Madison and UW-Division of Extension, has written "What's Up Doc? The New U.S.D.A. Plant Cold Hardiness Zone Map, Hardiness and Winter Injury." |
