ARE YOU IN THE ZONE?

WHAT ZONE

USDA hardiness zones are something that every homeowner should be aware of. The USDA hardiness zone maps breaks up North America into eleven different zones based on climates and landscapes. These zones are brilliant tools to understand what types of plants and grass that you can successfully plant on your property. The zones will inform you if the plants you are looking to add to your property can handle the temperatures, seasonal cycles, and rainfalls that historically occur in your area. When shopping for plants, tree, or anything that you are going to plant on your property, in most cases, you can find what zone that the planting can flourish in.  It is always important to check these tags to avoid costly mistakes when gardening or planting. If you have any questions about what plants can grow in your zone, contact your landscaping professional for help!

HISTORY OF THE ZONE

The original zones were created in 1990, and like today depicted eleven different zones across the continent of North America. Each zone has a varying degree of average temperatures, that ranged to be about a 10-degree difference. In 2012 the USDA released an updated version of the zones. This new version of the map has a temperate that is roughly 5 degrees in difference from zone to zone. Along with that, there were more technologically advanced methods to charting the map.

WHAT ZONE ARE YOU?

The state of New Jersey has four different hardiness zones. These zone are zone 6a, 6b, 7a, 7b. Zone 6a is located in the northern half of the state; Morris County is home to the 6a zone. This zone has mostly cold weather grasses planted, and the average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from -10 to -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 6b has small patches located in southern and central jersey, most notably located in Atlantic County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from -5 to 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 7a is the largest and most common zone in the state of New Jersey. This ranges from Cumberland County to Monmouth County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. Zone 7b the smallest zone in New Jersey and is really only located in Gloucester County. The average annual extreme minimum temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit.

WHAT CAN YOU PLANT

If you make your home in Morris County, NJ there is a vast array of plants that thrive in your climate! However, there are many other factors to take into consideration when selecting plants. Soil types, sun exposure, native pests, moisture, and other factors all are significant when choosing the right plants. If this seems a bit overwhelming, or too time-consuming, please feel free to contact a Pando Landscapes team member today!

3 THINGS YOU MUST KNOW ABOUT YOUR LAWN THIS WINTER

DORMANCY

What is happening to your grass in these cold winter months? In the winter months, your lawn goes into a stage of dormancy to survive by preserving energy in the form of nutrients in the cold, harsh winters. Cool season grasses begin to fall into dormancy when the temperatures consistently range below 45-55 degree Fahrenheit.  But cold weather is not the only thing that can force your lawn into a stage of dormancy, constant temperatures over 90 degrees Fahrenheit and lack of moisture can also result in a lawn entering dormancy. If you start to see brown or burn spots occurring sporadically around your yard during a heat wave, your lawn most likely has entered a stage of dormancy. Just because your grass is turning brown does not mean it is dead. It simply is entering a state of “efficiency’ to endure the less than ideal conditions. Once soil temperatures reach an optimal level grasses will release nutrients stored in the roots and rejuvenate the sheaths and blades of grass. Taking proper precautions in the fall/spring will ensure that your lawn will come back to its true green self once the weather turns around.

KNOW YOUR LAW

The most common types of warm weather grasses in Morris County New Jersey are Kentucky bluegrass, Fine Fescue, Tall Fescue, or Perennial Ryegrasses. In the winter months, these grass types go dormant to survive and preserve energy. These grasses are fully prepared to handle temperatures of -5 degrees Fahrenheit. In Morris County, the first frost on the year typically begins in late October or early November and the last frost of the year generally occurs in early to mid-May. It is always important to understand your lawn and the sages that it goes through during each season.  Using grass seed or other plantings that are not consistent with grasses that can survive your climate can be a very costly mistake, so it is always recommended to contact a lawn care professional when looking to plant new seed, over seed or install perennial plantings.

KEEP IT CLEAN

What can you do to your lawn to protect it during a long stage of dormancy in these brutally cold winter months? It is relatively simple, keep your yard clear of leaves and brush. For families with children, it is also recommended to keep your lawn clear of toys, as well as reducing foot traffic on the yard. Watering your lawn in the winter should never be done, watering in the winter can cause bacteria, and molds to form on your grass that could lead to your lawn dying out — minimizing foot traffic in the cold winters it imperative keeping your lawn safe in the winter. Footprints can cause damage to the blades and will make it harder for grass to recover from the brutal winters. Stepping on grass that has ice on is also going to cause damages to your grass blades which can cause a lot of stress for your lawn in the spring. If you notice weeds or any types on general growth occurring on your yard during the winter month contact a professional, to have the growth removed before it can become out of control in the spring and summer months.

If you have any question, please do not hesitate to contact and Pando team member! We would love to hear from you!