With a new, easytoread design, more plant photography, larger illustrations, and more than 8,000 plant listings500 of them newits the essential book for gardeners in the western states. This helpful reference book is geared toward growing trees, shrubs, perennials, annuals and vegetables in this unique part of the country. Their garden encyclopedia was first published more than 4 decades ago. The usda offers a handy planting zones by zip code search function. Sunset western garden zones by zip code statacsweet.
Aug 24, 2011 sunset zones the sunset zones, popularized and researched by sunset magazine, are derived from climate zones developed by the university of california cooperative extension. Its important to understand each piece because knowing your zone and planting at the proper time for your zone will not equate to success without these essential elements. The latest edition, the 8th, was published in february 2007. The classic sunset western garden book divided the west into 24 zones and is still. More than 8, 000 plants the right plants for your climate tips from western garden experts sunset western garden book editors of. Sunset zones are based on a combination of extremes and averages of minimum, maximum, and mean temperature, rainfall, humidity, and the length of the growing season. Sunset climate zones map the total climate governing a plants performance length of growing season, timing and amount of rainfall, winter lows, summer highs, humidity. Were thrilled to be delivering plant finderjust in time for spring, said katie tamony, sunsets editorinchief. Microclimates are important not only to gardeners, but also to vintners, since microclimates can have a profound effect on grapes and wine.
Sunset has been the consistent goto book about gardening for decades, and i ve always had at least one. Sunsets climate zone information, although very informative, will not be designated on plant tags or in catalogs. Sunset magazine has done research to more closely pinpoint the different growing climates of the region. Consult sunsets western garden book for more information. Sunsets climate zones landscape plants oregon state. Sunset may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Go to the sunset website, the book sunset national garden book, or sunset western garden book. According to this system, most readers probably live in zone 24, although the inland valleys of ojai and santa ynez fall in zones 20 and 18, respectively. Californianevada for a more detailed map, go to the sunset plant finder and click on the find your zone link. Usda hardiness zones and sunset climate zones are available in ufei.
Youll also find updated information on the western climate zones, 30 plant. Sunset western garden book mountain valley growers. The new sunset western garden book is the ultimate flower and vegetable growing guide for this area. In the west, most gardeners use the zone maps featured in sunset s western garden book. Were thrilled to be delivering plant finderjust in time for spring, said katie tamony, sunset s editorinchief. Sunset magazine has the best and most useful climate classification system for gardeners and landscape architects. For more information, consult sunset s national garden bookand western garden book.
You can use sunsets climate maps to identify the climate characteristics of a site during the site inventory process. Besides having descriptions for zillions of plants over 8,000 keyed to climate zones, there are lists for everything. Climate zone maps and growingseason graphs for all regions of the west including alaska and hawaii. In addition to the minimum temperature, the sunset climatic zones also take into account important factors such as the number of daylight hours, marine influences, elevation, and rainfall. In using the web site, go to the plant finder site, and click on find my sunset climate zone. Of 24 climate zones defined in the sunset western garden book and the 20 zones defined by the united states department of agriculture usda, california has 20 and 16, respectively.
The usda plant hardiness map divides north america into 11 hardiness zones. Department of agriculture, which divides most of north america into zones based strictly on winter lows. Based only on average winter temperature lows, the usda map is most accurate in flat areas. Usda hardiness zones map, sunset climate zones and other. For more information, consult sunset s national garden book and western garden book. Since the 1930s, growers of all kinds of plants in the many diverse climate regions of the western u. For more information, consult sunsets national garden bookand western garden book. Prescott and the cooler canyons areas of the verde valley are in sunset zone 2. Planting zones map find your usda gardening zone by zip code. Sunsets climate zones are based on winter minimum temperatures, but also include other factors such as summer high temperatures, length of growing season, humidity, and rainfall. More than 8,000 plants the right plants for your climate tips from western garden experts sunset western garden book at. Garden basics great soil hacks to give your garden a boost.
Coldest winters in the west and western prairie states. Published this year, it features climate zones so you can determine which flowers work. The sunset western garden book uses a wide range of factors in defining climate zones including winter minimums, summer highs, elevation, rainfall, humidity, aridity and growing season a more comprehensive view encompassing both the usda and ahs data. Gardening in central oregons climate osu extension service. Apr 10, 2020 a sunset zone is a climate zone for gardening determined by a system developed by sunset magazine in the mid20th century. Gardening in solano county ucce master gardeners of. The sunset western garden book creates climate zones based on many more factors that simply temperatures like the usda. Oct 31, 20 gardeners in the western united states are sometimes confused when confronted with these 11 hardiness zones created by the usda. The humboldt and del norte counties consists of 6 sunset zones. In the west, most gardeners use the zone maps featured in sunsets western garden book. This is the time of year garden planning and plant ordering season to understand and know your climate zones. Sunset western garden book is updated every few years.
In fact, the sunset zones and maps are what are listed for each plant in sunsets western garden book and western garden cdrom, which are considered. These climate zones do not correspond to the usda hardiness zones. Backyard gardener understanding climate zones, february 7, 2001. Western climates are much more varied than eastern ones. The numerous climate zones in napa county allow for a diversity of crops and landscape plants and trees.
Buy map titlegeneralized plant climate map of california. This climate zone shares similarities with its neighborsthe coldwinter zones 1, 2, and 3, and the subtropical low desert, zone. If you garden anywhere from montana, wyoming, colorado, new mexico west to alaska and hawaii and corresponding areas of canada, this is a reference youll return to again and again. Feb 26, 2012 know gardens zone when picking plants elena acoba special to the arizona daily star. Hilltops and valley floors of interior southern california. If you didnt receive sunsets updated 2007 western garden book for christmas and you garden in the west, you need to give one to yourself.
The sunset climate zones take into account idahos latitude, elevation, seasonal rainfall regimes, humidity, influence of ocean and continental air masses, and soil types. Marine influence, summer heat, and winter and summer rainfall contribute as much to choosing a plant as frost hardiness. Sunset climate zones sunset western garden collection. A hardiness zone is a geographic area defined to encompass a certain range of climatic conditions relevant to plant growth and survival the original and most widelyused system, developed by the united states department of agriculture usda as a rough guide for landscaping and gardening, defines zones by annual extreme minimum temperature.
Sunset western garden book climate zones found in yavapai county taken from the new sunset western garden book 2012 these zones factorin winter minimum temperatures, summer highs, elevation, proximity to coast or mountains, rainfall, humidity and aridity, and growing season. If you are on the west coast, you may find the sunset climate zones more helpful, as they take into account other variables besides just winter minimum temperatures. Many nurseries and garden centers will use the sunset zones as a reference, and these numbers will be used in the sunset western garden book instead of the usda hardiness. Of 24 climate zones defined in the sunset western garden book and the 20 zones defined by the. Northern plains, ca desert, northern ca, eastern waorid, western wa, san diego area.
Sunsets climate zone maps take all these factors into account, unlike the familiar hardiness zone maps devised by the u. Usda hardiness zones, sunset climate zones, climate zones. Published this year, it features climate zones so you can determine which flowers work best in your growing zone. Climate here is oceanic but warmer than oceanic zone 17, with cool summers, mild winters. All about growing zones hardiness zones heat zones. Nevada, wyoming, utah, colorado sunset western garden. Know gardens zone when picking plants elena acoba special to the arizona daily star.
Heres a quick way to find your california climate zone cse. Gardeners in the western united states are sometimes confused when confronted with these 11 hardiness zones created by the usda. In addition to the climate zone, select two or three other criteria that are of interest to you. Rain comes in summer as well as in the cooler seasons. A photo gallery shows the wests most innovative gardens, from alledibles front yards to stylish waterwise and firewise gardens to living walls and green roofsall with ideas you can use. The national garden book sunset publishing corporation, 1997.
Department of agriculture heat zones, developed by the american horticulture society climate zones, developed by sunset magazine and documented in the sunset western garden book climates of adjoining zones grade into one another near their boundaries. This article explains the origins and uses of these climate zone maps, including those four. For years, landscape architects have used the sunset western garden book climate maps to help decode californias complicated patchwork of climate zones and find plants that will thrive. Ontheroad with the sunset western garden book pacific. A guide to western climate zones for gardening sunset. Western gardeners know this book as their gardening bible. A plants performance is governed by the total climate.
If you live in the west, you should also know your sunset garden zone. In addition, the american horticultural society has published a heatzone map. The best flowering shrubs and bushes for the eastern and. Sunset magazine has created a climatic zone for the western united states that is more useful than the usda plant hardiness zones. A plant that is useful in san diego may fry or freeze or both in sacramento. There are 24 sunset zones, divided by a number of factors to help gardeners identify the most appropriate plants for their needs. A guide to western climate zones for gardening sunset magazine. A more useful index is the 24zone climate system published in the sunset western garden book in collaboration with the university of california. Sunset has been writing about the west for over 100 years. These zone descriptions will guide you in choosing the right plants for your garden. Sunset climate zones orange county, ca map missing. High desert areas of arizona, new mexico, west texas, oklahoma panhandle, and southwest kansas growing season.
Jun 25, 2011 the numerous climate zones in napa county allow for a diversity of crops and landscape plants and trees. Jun 28, 1986 gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and freshlooking 8th edition of the bible of western gardening. Planting zones are essential to your garden, but they arent the knowallendall. An example would be the climate zones which is different than a hardiness zone designated by the popular sunset western garden book. Northern and central california coast range thermal belts growing season. Plants from the mediterranean and near eastern regions thrive here. Garden basics your essential winter gardening todo list everything you need to know about maintaining your winter garden and paving the way for spring growth, tailored to every region in the west. Backyard gardener understanding climate zones, february. Aug 11, 2018 the new sunset western garden book by susan littlefield since the 1930s, growers of all kinds of plants in the many diverse climate regions of the western u. For more about the new sunset western garden book or to purchase it, go to. Chilly even snowdusted weather rules from late nov.
Gardeners throughout the region will be welcoming a thoroughly updated and freshlooking 8th edition of the bible of western gardening. A sunset zone is a climate zone for gardening determined by a system developed by sunset magazine in the mid20th century. The best gardeners know both their usda and sunset zone. Sunset climate zones for the san francisco bay area and inland, from the 2012 edition. Find your climate zonethe key to knowing what plants thrive in your area. Use a sunset western garden book to determine your sunset climate zone.
Mar 31, 2009 find your climate zonethe key to knowing what plants thrive in your area. Sunset s climate zones are based on winter minimum temperatures, but also include other factors such as summer high temperatures. Gardening zones and climate zones landscaping network. Usda hardiness zones map, sunset climate zones and other zone. Like zones 1 to 3, zone 11 has cold winters, and like zone, it has hot summers. The two or three recent reissues of sunset s western garden book have become more posh and sophisticated, like coffeetable issues, not meant for nittygritty work in the yard.
A map of all of the zones will come up and you can click on it to enlarge the regions if desired. Many factors besides winter lows determine western growing climates. Sunset western garden collection another horticultural innovation from plant development services inc. Unlike the usda zones, which are based on eleven different cold temperature ranges, sunset zones take into account many climate influences for one. I remember williamson worked with an artist to draw climatezone. Sunset climate zones are based on latitude, elevation, ocean influence, continental air influence, mountain ranges, and local terrain.
Fans of the sunset western garden book requested that we put their favorite garden book online. The usda zones work well for the east, while the sunset zones work excellent for the west. Climate zones a plants performance is governed by the total climate. Sunset western garden book according to gardening expert lane greer, the sunset western garden book should be on the bookshelf of every gardener in the western us. Sunset s climate zone maps take all these factors into account, unlike the familiar hardiness zone maps devised by the u. You might be able to find it in the sunsets new western garden book too. Sunset zones the sunset zones, popularized and researched by sunset magazine, are derived from climate zones developed by the university of california cooperative extension. Now i can simply refer her to the appropriate page of her own sunset garden book. It is always best to start with the climate zone for the planting area. This system bases its climate zones consisting of many factors. The complex end result is an encyclopedia of plants with appropriate ratings based on these zones, all nicely packaged in the sunset western garden book. The spirit of western gardening the wests 24 climate zones a guide to plant selection western plant encyclopedia practical gardening dictionary resource directory. Hardiness heat and climate zones university of arizona. In the sunset western garden book 2015, sunset pub.
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