134 Smoke vs Your Garden. Know Your USDA Zones. Plant Protection Preparation.

Many gardeners in the western United States are breathing in wildfire smoke. So are your plants. What does smoke and falling ash do to the health of a plant? And what can you do about it? And, oddly enough, there are some benefits to that pollution. For Eastern and Midwestern gardeners, now’s the time to plan for protecting your young, fruit producing trees and shrubs this fall and winter. We'll tell you why. Do you know your USDA Plant Hardiness zone? We talk about that, and a better resource for figuring out your plants’ needs based on where you live. It’s on episode 134 of the Garden Basics with Farmer Fred podcast, brought to you today by Smart Pots. And we will do it all in under 30 minutes. Let’s go!

Pictured: The USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map

Links: Smart Pots Books by Lance Walheim on Roses, Citrus, Lawns, Landscaping USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Maps Sunset Garden Climate Zone Maps Sunset National Garden Book Southern Living Garden Book Sunset Western Garden Book Sunset Midwestern Landscaping Book UC Botanical Garden - The Effect of Smoke, Ash on Plants Journal of Geophysical Research: Biogeosciences - Wildfire-Smoke Aerosols Lead to Increased Light Use Efficiency

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