Easy Ways to Learn How to Garden in a New Climate Zone

Since me and my husband just moved to Florida, we don't really know much about gardening in this different and somewhat unique environment. Central Florida may get freezing temperatures. It has sandy soil with changing nutrient levels. Much of the time, the climate is subtropical. It also has heavy summer rain and drought in the spring. All in all, the gardening zone is different from our former region in the Pacific Northwest with a marine influence. Here's my list of how to learn how to adapt your gardening style to a new climate zone.

Learn to Garden in a New Climate Zone by Buying Gardening Books

Books are an easy way to determine your new climate zone and properties about that climate zone. Sunset garden guides often have a good definition of the climate zones and what the effect of that zone is on your gardening tasks, plants, and growing season. Other books can demonstrate local styles and teach you about local plants.

Here's my list of essential gardening books for Florida and my list of favorite gardening books.

Learn to Garden in a New Climate Zone by Taking a Class and Signing up with Audubon

When we arrived in Florida, we joined the local Audubon and from them learned of a local class that taught the basics of gardening in Florida called "Intro to Florida Plants for Local Gardens" taught in conjunction with the University of Florida Master Gardener program. This class was awesome and provided us advertising stuff, coupons off a local butterfly show, a free plant, a workbook explaining many plants, mulches etc, a guide to butterflies, coloring guides for children, and a guide to Waterwise plants and many tips and a tour of two gardens. Local gardeners that haven't taken it should contact their office at Seminole County's Master Gardener desk is (407) 665-5550 and is open M-F from 8:00-5:00.

Learn to Garden in a New Climate Zone by Consulting a Master Gardener

In the gardening class we attended, we learned about the local Master Gardener program. Master gardener are typically people interested in volunteering their time to teach people about gardening knowledge they learn through a program of study. They often are available to answer questions from a local office or at a local nursery or garden center and sometimes also provide knowledge via the web.

Learn to Garden in a New Climate Zone by Having Your Soil Tested

The Seminole Country Extension Service office for the University of Florida is located at 250 W. County Home Rd, Sanford will test samples of your soil and provide information about how to amend it or how to limit your planting to a given set of plants.

Learn to Garden in a New Climate Zone by Visiting Local Gardens

Also at the class we attended, we learned about local Leu Botanical Gardens where the Audubon meetings are held and which has many sample gardens that show how local plants can be used to provide different styled gardens. Other places to learn about local gardens includes maps, tour guides, local nurseries, and web searches.

Most of all, have fun learning about your new gardening climate zone and growing that unique style in your gardens.