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New to the UK, advice for hardiness zones
Hello everyone! I have just moved to England (West Midlands, Stourbridge area) from Florida and I’m having a heck of a time adjusting my gardening! From what I gather I’m in a H5 hardiness zone.... I think. 😂 Can anyone is this area give me an idea what the lowest hardiness zone will survive in my area? Will H4 do well? I need 3 or 4 different trees or large shrubs for privacy along my garden fence. My partner doesn’t want to go higher then 6 meters. But I find all the smaller trees/ larger shrubs which I like are H4. Will I be able to get away with H4 or should I stick to H5 to be on the safe side? Oh, and I should also mention my neighbors on all sides have pavers or fake turf (virtually no greenery or plants) so that may play a role during winter as far as shelter goes for the plants. Thanks for any advice that can be given! So exited to try new plants and revive the neglected garden!
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PS: USDA climate zones are not appropriate to UK , as the climate is different. West Midlands is technically Zone 8, but really Zone 9 as winters are much wetter.
We don’t use hardiness zone designations here too much; on websites like Crocus there will be a filter selection for ‘Hardy (Yes/No)’. And then there’s ‘frost hardy’ which for me usually means it will die over winter...
Of course there are microclimates to consider. I was going to say have a look at your neighbours’ gardens to see what they’ve got, but otherwise have a look at the National Garden Scheme for open gardens near you: https://ngs.org.uk/. They can be grand but also more ‘ordinary’ — I learned a lot visiting a collection of home gardens that opened in a new build estate near me; my garden is in a new build development.
More on UK hardiness zones here: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/planting-zones/uk-hardiness-zones.htm
If you can post a photo of your garden especially the fence area, and let us know what trees/shrubs you’re considering then others will be able to give suggestions. Also which way the fence faces, the type of soil and if you have any particular preferences apart from privacy (e.g. wildlife friendly, no thorns, evergreen). You can upload using the icon circled in yellow below. If the photo is not rotated properly, crop your photo slightly and upload it again.
That doesn't help you as I assume you have little experience of UK weather. In many places there's a saying, "if you don't like the weather hasn't around it'll soon change". I've known lovely spring sun followed by rain, hall, sleet, snow then lovely spring sun again. We're talking not a cloud in the sky book ending winter weather conditions. That's in may bank holiday btw.
In the UK though there are usually good garden centres near everywhere. If your local one isn't great and can't help you then your a few others until you find a good one. You're American right? Local drive means 5 hours in the car in suppose. Could be a generalisation because I used to deal with Texans so it might just be true for them. BTW 5 hours would get you up our way and there's loads of garden centres worth visiting up here.
Trees and shrubs are kind of active right now. I'd have thought it's not a great time to plant out new trees. There's a very good tree nursery about an hour from us up in the Howgills. It's website basically said that they're shut down until dormancy of the trees comes back. You can order but you'd have to wait for the trees. My dad bought hedging whips from there. We all checked it out but you could just as well order online. Weardale Nurseries. They supply trees from whips right up to several years old and getting quite big. Best place near to us to buy trees from. My dad got hawthorn and Blackthorn whips for the hedge, an American sorbus (close relative to our native Rowan or mountain ash), an apple and a plum tree I think. They were doing great years later when they moved out. Didn't lose one whip and they got delivered into their driveway while they were out. Perfect condition.
I'm not saying come up here just shop around a bit nearer home. I think it's a good idea when moving somewhere new to tour garden centres within reasonable traveling distance to find a good one. It's the quality of advice as much as the plants that are important.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...