I'm moving and unsure of my new zone; please help!!

15 years ago

I'm soon moving from Seattle proper to the community of Echo Lake in Snohomish County (located just above the King County border in Snohomish, just below Maltby, I guess). I've scoured my books and can't discern for sure if I'll be gardening in Sunset zone 5 (hope so) or 4 (hope not). I don't know what the USDA zone is, either, but does anyone even use that anymore? I don't know...

Anyone on the forum from that area and can provide your local wisdom? I am so excited to move up there, though a little worried about deer damage!! All info appreciated!

Thanks thanks thanks!

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Comments (3)

treepalm
15 years ago
I can't tell you anything about zones, but I have a trick to help with the deer. I had deer eating my heucheras to nubbins. I put some small stakes in around them, sticking up above the leaves. The deer bumped their noses on the stakes and then left the plants alone. So far it has worked on everything they have gone after.
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
15 years ago
You are most likely on the cusp between Sunset zones 4&5, but I'm not sure I'd be too concerned one way or the other. Sunset is overly conservative in its hardiness ratings and while it can be a handy guide, it's hardly what I'd call a definitive resource :-) And the Sunset hardiness rating system tends to be far less widely accepted or acknowledged than the USDA zonal rating system. For one, very few growers bother to rate their plants with both zone systems.......the USDA info is predominate and is much more widely used and accepted. And remember that hardiness zones are just guidelines anyway - scores of local GW members have demonstrated the ability to grow plants here with great success that are generally considered outside of this zone. IMO, soil conditions and lack of summer heat play just as great a role in longterm plant success here as does winter cold.

Unless you are up into the Cascade foothills (a bit of a stretch for the Maltby area) you are in USDA zone 8. And if you live on the lake (lakeshore property), that should have a moderating influence that will put you firmly into zone 8. Every garden has individual microclimates, so some protected areas may be warmer; others more exposed, colder. Deer problems seem to be an issue anywhere in a more suburban to rural setting, so planning ahead for that seems prudent. A gardening friend living in the Issaquah highlands also has to deal with elk wandering through her garden and while they may not do as much browsing damage as do the deer, their huge size and resultant trampling of plants has just as a great an impact. Even fencing doesn't seem to deter them much. Good luck!!
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Embothrium
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Sunset 4. The current map doesn't even have Everett in Sunset 5. Base what to expect on descriptions of Sunset 4, then see what happens on your particular site over the years. Install secure deer fencing if you want to garden with anything like the same flexibility as in Seattle. Rabbits may also be present there. If you do not exclude such animals your efforts will be constantly subject to their attentions. Search GardenWeb for "deer" to see what that is like.

I'm moving and unsure of my new zone; please help!!

Comments (3)

treepalm

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

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