The geographic area covered by this website is Harford County in the State of Maryland and nearby areas of Baltimore County and Cecil County - USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. You can click on this link to see a larger map to pinpoint better where your garden is located.
In viewing the map, it looks as though Harford County is mostly Zone 7a (light green). There is a very small northern part of the county that is in Zone 6b (medium green). According to the Map, the minimum winter temperature ranges from 0 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit. When picking plants for your landscape, make sure they are (winter) hardy to Zone 6 because you never know when a colder than average winter will occur in our area.
Soil Types - Clay, Sand, or Loam? - What type of soil do you have? Some of us in Harford County and the surrounding areas have clay soil. It may not be Georgia-red clay but a light-colored clay. Clay soil has very fine soil particles, bakes to a hard, cement-like consistency during droughts, remains cold and wet longer in the spring than other soil types, and if you squeeze clay with some moisture in it, it will squeeze into a tight ball. Clay soil is also very heavy so digging is hard work. I use a smaller shovel which is a lot easier on my back.
Amending Clay and Sandy Soils - Clay and sandy soils need to be amended to grow perennials and small shrubs. If your soil is not a loam type soil and you do not want to amend the soil as you plant, then plant those plants that will grow in that type of soil. You'll find your choices somewhat limited. Check the "Soil Requirements" column in my section "Plants for Clay Soil". Above each of the plant listings, I explain what the words used in soil and light requirement columns mean.
For More Information? - Contact the University of Maryland Extension Service if you need more information on soils - see my Links Page for the web address.
As a general rule, for plants to be planted in the ground, the minimum temperature zone for the plant should be Zone 6. For plants to remain in pots outdoors through the winter, the minimum temperature zone for the plant should be Zone 5. I know from experience that my garden gets frost whereas other closeby areas do not, so I am careful to pick plants for Zone 6 and colder.
Is Your Soil Alkaline or Acidic? Soil pH indicates the alkalinity or acidity of the soil. Test kits are available for gardeners to test for soil pH. The pH scale ranges from 0 which is very acidic to 10 which is very alkaline. A level of pH 7 indicates the soil is neutral - neither acid nor alkaline. Soil pH is important because some plants will only thrive in soils within a specific pH range. Most plants grow in a pH range of 4 to 8. Ericaceous plants (rhododendrons and azaleas) prefer acidic or low pH soils. Often, herbs and vegetables prefer alkaline soils (pH 7 or higher).
Soil pH in Harford County, as well as in the eastern half of the United States, has low soil pH ranging from 4 and up. We can grow a variety of plants if the soil drains well. We can grow azaleas, rhododendrons, herbs, vegetables, annuals, perennials, and bulbs. A soil test will help you determine your soil's pH; the kits are sold in most large garden supply stores.
Check for Soil Drainage - After we've done our homework on plant selection and have purchased our plants, now we're ready to plant. Before planting, though, dig the planting hole and fill it with water and watch how fast the water drains from it. If the hole drains within an hour or two, then that area has well-drained soil. If the water doesn't drain at all, then you'll have to correct the problem before planting plants that require well-drained soil. Another way to get around a poorly-drained site is to plant plants that want boggy or wet soil and there are many of them that like such conditions. If you need a list of plants, check the web for lots of information on this subject. One such site is from The Pennsylvania State University extension service.
We will assume that the water in the planting hole drained away within an hour or two and you're ready to plant.