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ons like this tydrangens c can
utdoors during the winte season. .

Friday, November 17, 1995 - North Shore News — 15

STORIES —

Vinter gardenir

WITH THE advent of
winter weather, gardeners
should be aware of plants
that need muiching or
winter protection.

Through years of experience, .
:.. gacdeners and nursery staff have ©
*Jeamed which plants will sur-.:°
vive in our area. The novice gar-
- dener, however, does not always
know which new plants will sur-
‘vive. :
“To standardize the concept of
/nardiness, horticulturalists have .

’ created hardiness zones for the

. world, Unfortunately. like most
systems. people can't agree and

several different patterns have been set up.

The American and Canadian zoning is slightly dif-
ferent but the zone numbers in otr area are essentially

“the same for both systems, Plant labels on imported

meer 1sto-5

NEWS graphic Dato Fraser.

Jonsson

] sow it grows

plants may cause some confusion
So it is best to always check with
‘your nursery...
There are 10 zones with | the.

coldest and 10 the warmest, and

. have been worked out based on ‘
average temperatures and plant

* survival rates over long periods of .
time. When using the zones it is’

-: Wise to remember that they are
guidelines, not abschites, and

~ good judgment and common,
“sense have to be used. Sub-zones ©
are sometimes indicated by using
(a) or (b) behind the, number.-In

_ this case the (a) refers to the cold-
- er area and the (b) to ‘the warmer | 2

', area of each zone.”

Paris of Victoria, the Gulf Islands, Sunshine Coast

‘and select areas of the west coast of Vancouver istand
_are in Zone 9.-

Most of the southem ‘co coust ‘of B. C. * is-Zone 8.
The Squamish area is partially moderated by ©

Marine air but is also subjected to the very ‘cold air”.
pouring out of the interior of the province and i is ‘rated.
_ as Zone 7.

‘Cold hardiness is a very relative’ term bonaitie's
there are so many variables: Each garden or area

“ within a garden can have its own micto-climate

depending on sun exposure, ‘air movement, precipita-. :
tion and elevation. A sheltered location: that receives.

“winter sun, for example, ‘ay be a few. degrees“

” warmer, during the day and radiates back some of that °
“heat from the ground at night. Excess rainfall or poor
“drainage can increase the lethal effects’ of cold-weath-
erona 2 plant’ s roots even though, under normal condi-.

tions, the same low iemperature is not likely to kill

“plants. Frequent freezing and thawing can also exag-
. gerate the effects of cold weather, particularly for
Plants that don't Stay dormant.

‘A heavy frost in early, November before the plaints
have had time to harden-off or become covered witha

~ blanket of snow is more damaging thun a similar. frost:
. in January, And d strong, cold’ winds can often desiccate

* See Hardy, page.

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