Zone 5 gardens experience a winter cold around -10 to -20°F; however this zone is also benefitted from ocean influence and lower latitudes.
Zone 5 stretches along Newfoundland and Nova Scotia and along the seacoast of Maine and New Hampshire in the eastern United States. In the western United States, it continues through western Massachusetts and midstate New York, northern Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, much of Michigan, southern Iowa and Nebraska, northern Missouri and Kansas, and eastern Colorado. As far as interior west is concerned, the zone extends from New Mexico into British Columbia, the southern Alaskan coast and the Aleutians.
Here are a few facts about the climatic conditions in zone 5 –
- Zone 5 is a landlocked midcontinental position which makes it free from moderating influence exerted by large bodies of water on temperature.
- An unusual warm winter day is followed by frigidity.
- There are occasional thunderstorms which can drop the temperature from 100° to 60° in a few minutes.
- Sun’s rays are strong and direct with winds that are ever present and sometimes violent winds are also experienced.
- Temperatures above 100° can last for several days, but do not occur every year. Thus, a flowering plant located in full sun will experience a lot of torture. Thus, in this scenario shaded plants are unharmed, but the plants which are hit by even small amount of sun, show stress.
- Go for plants which can adapt in zone 5. One cannot grow poinsettias in the garden. Similarly, buddleias will never grow large enough to be called ‘summer lilacs’.
- Snow is irregular in the winters of zone 5 and hence they do not ensure a reliable insulating cover.
Thus, in short consider all these weather facts about zone 5, before taking up gardening. And to grow a beautiful garden in zone 5, you need to be savvy.
