Welcome to the Lost Horizons Nursery
Note on Hardiness |
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| The same plants are often listed in different reference materials with a wide range of hardiness zones. When asking around in the trade, I’ve found that most hardiness levels seem to be assigned essentially on hearsay, with little scientific evaluation. In this catalogue, many plants are listed as Zone 5 because we are able to grow them here, but a good number of them are probably much hardier than listed. Many factors influence hardiness. One of the most important is snow cover. Because snow (especially dry snow) traps so much air, it is an excellent insulator. A friend who gardens considerably north of here grows things with which I’ve had difficulty, because he has deep, reliable snow cover, while here the winter snow is anything but reliable. Quite often it is the recurrent early spring thaws that leave a plant exposed and weakened. Once established, plants seem to be hardier, but mulching around them will aid in protecting the roots from this rollercoaster ride. Mulch placed in fall can help catch snow, providing more insulation. It also has year-round benefits: water retention, weed control, and protection from the baking sun. Another factor in plant survival is soil moisture. Some plants, especially those from intercontinental areas, survive much better in well-drained soils where excess moisture can drain away. Similarly, we have found many bog plants will grow in very moist to wet soils but don’t survive being frozen to -20?C. The same plants often survive fine in a drier winter soil. |
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