The impacts of climate change extend far beyond the weather report. Take allergies, for example. Many plants respond to rising temperatures and higher levels of carbon dioxide by blooming earlier and producing more pollen. Ragweed is becoming even more allergenic; not only does increased CO2 result in more ragweed pollen, but the pollen contains higher levels of an allergy-causing protein, potentially leading to more severe hay-fever attacks. Ticks, mosquitoes, aphids, and other pests prosper due to longer growing seasons. And poison ivy? "The chemical that makes you itch is increasing with higher carbon-dioxide levels," explains Havens. "Poison ivy is becoming more toxic."
Ultimately, climate change is expected to alter every aspect of our gardening experience, from the length of our seasons to the ferocity of our summer storms. In a 2009 report titled Global Climate Change Impacts in the United States, the U.S. Global Change Research Program documents changes that have already occurred and provides predictions for the future. Average temperatures in the United States have risen more than 2°F in the past 50 years, for example, and are expected to increase an additional 4° to 11°F by 2100. Some changes will affect the entire country--extreme weather events, accelerated weed growth, higher pollen counts--but many impacts will vary by region or season. Hotter and drier conditions could decrease productivity in the Southeast, and severe storms coupled with longer droughts may increase the possibility of crop destruction in the Great Plains. In New England, warmer and wetter conditions will allow growers to experiment with new crops, but will also reduce harvests of cool-season favorites such as cranberries, broccoli, and maple syrup. It's hard to believe, but by the end of this century, New Hampshire is predicted to have summers similar to what we currently see in Virginia or North Carolina.
America's gardeners have a new map to help navigate these changes. The new plant hardiness zone map created by the USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS), can be found here. The new map is precise than the 1990 map, partially because it considers variables beyond temperature, including slope, elevation, and prevailing windsaccording to Kim Kaplan, ARS spokesperson. The internet-friendly map also features a zip code finder to help gardeners determine their zone. "I don't know that you'll be able to see your own back yard, but it will probably be close," Kaplan says.
But the map is no more than a guide. "Don't go ripping out what's been thriving in your yard just because some zone on a map has changed," warns Kaplan, who stresses that no one can know their gardens better than the gardeners. "Gardeners should be aware of the mini microclimates in their yards—the cool spot where frost pools, the warm sheltered spot against a south-facing wall."
As for climate change, Kaplan points out that "most perennials don't experience climate; they experience weather." The difference is a matter of scale and influence. Climate can be measured only at the level of decades and centuries-- it affects weather patterns but does not control individual weather events. Put another way, a region may have a hot and dry climate, but it will still have rainy weather from time to time.
And this is the challenge. Our climate is changing, but weather is the real boss. Climate change may increase the likelihood of summer droughts or leaf-shredding hailstorms, but individual weather events will determine our tomato harvests. The best solution for a gardener? Stay alert to long-term changes, but always check the weather report.
Prepare for changes in your garden
- Drier summers: Collect excess rainwater in rain barrels and use mulch to keep soil moist.
- Extreme storms: Spare plants from waterlogged soil by growing them in raised beds.
- Frost damage: Protect plants from an unwelcome frost with a sheet or row cover.
Pests and weeds: Control weeds and pests with beneficial insects, row covers, and mulch
Chronicle Changes in Your Garden
A garden journal may be your best ally. Careful notes will help you learn the climatic quirks of your garden and track changes to weather patterns or plant-growth habits in your region.
Put your observations to work by sharing your notes with Kayri Havens, Ph.D., and her partners at Project BudBurst. This project collects data on phenological events--the timing of leafing, flowering, and fruiting--from volunteers across the country. Visit budburst.org to get involved.
An updated, more precise version of the USDA's 1990 plant hardiness zone map, shown at left, is nearing completion.
Image: U. S. Department of Agriculture.