Sir:
I guess this has been out for a year but it’s new to me that the
Arbor Day Foundation has come out with a
new Hardiness Zone map. I live in
northern
Ohio so I moved from a 5 to a 6 zone. Global warming? This makes a big difference
in the fruit trees I can plant. Some areas have moved up two zones! In the
past I was considering putting in a few acres of Paulownia
trees for future
timber
but the nursery recommended only Zones 6 and above for timber production. This
is a big deal for me. I’d love to get some advice from your readers whether
I should start following the new Zone map or stick to zone 5 trees. An acre
of Paulownia trees are about $ 2,000 for just the seedlings. I’d hate
to be out that money and the labor involved if they don’t grow well.
- Adam in Ohio
JWR Replies: I'm the ultraconservative type, and I'm suspicious of alleged climate change (versus short term changes that are caused by the 11 year solar cycle.) You never know when a hard winter will wipe out a planting. Am I too conservative? I'd appreciate comments from readers on this issue.
