Has Global Warming Made Gardening in Marion Easier?

A change in Iowa's climate means good things for gardeners in Marion.

In the newly unveiled USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map, basically a map that outlines what types of plants can thrive in geographical climate areas, Marion growers have moved up to a designation called "5a."

To find out what this means for Marion gardeners and landscape artists, I spoke with Chad Avery, nursery manager at Culver's Garden Center.

He said it is important to note that this map is updated from 1990 and represents an incremental change that took place over 20 years.

"It is a gradual change," he said. "It didn’t change last week, but it probably won’t change what we are buying a whole lot."

Unfortunately, he said this isn't a big enough change for you to start planting exotic, warm weather plants in your garden.

This means that plants that were finicky and might die easily in the past, will require less attention and worry. 

So plants like rhododendrons, azaleas and roses are going to be much easier to grow.

But this begs a bigger question: What does this mean for the climate? Why is this change taking place at all?

It's may be global warming.

In an article by the Associated Press, David W. Wolfe, professor of plant and soil ecology in Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture, describes how the USDA, which published the map, may have been overly cautious to not connect the changing hardiness zones.

Since hardiness zones are increasing in number nearly across the country, meaning warmer and warmer winters nationwide, Wolfe said that it is a clear indication that climate change is picking up steam.

"At a time when the 'normal' climate has become a moving target, this revision of the hardiness zone map gives us a clear picture of the ‘new normal,’ and will be an essential tool for gardeners, farmers, and natural resource managers as they begin to cope with rapid climate change," he said.

But for now, the only change Marion residents will notice is that their rosebushes have a greater chance of surviving Iowa's winter.

Let us know in the comments, do you like the change, or does it worry you?